Definitions

stir up

VERB

anger

Synonyms

STRONGEST

aggravate annoy antagonize arouse displease embitter enrage exacerbate exasperate excite incense inflame infuriate irritate offend outrage provoke rankle rile

STRONG

acerbate affront agitate bait boil bristle burn chafe craze cross fret gall goad madden miff nettle pique rant rave ruffle seethe stew tempt umbrage vex

WEAK

blow up boil over burn up egg on get mad get on one's nerves lose one's temper make sore raise hell steam up

Antonyms

STRONGEST

aid alleviate appease bore calm comfort compose delight help lull make happy pacify placate please quiet soothe tranquilize

STRONG

assist be happy discourage mollify

WEAK

forbear

VERB

awake

Synonyms

STRONGEST

awaken

STRONG

activate alert animate arouse enliven excite incite kindle provoke revive stimulate vivify

WEAK

call forth

Antonyms

STRONG

bore calm deaden discourage kill lull quiet stop

WEAK

go to sleep sleep

VERB

awaken

Synonyms

STRONGEST

arouse awake excite provoke revive rouse wake

STRONG

activate animate call enliven fan incite kindle rally stimulate vivify

WEAK

pile out rise and shine roll out show a leg turn out

Antonyms

STRONGEST

bore calm deaden lull quiet sleep

STRONG

discourage stop

WEAK

go to sleep hypnotize

VERB

brew

Synonyms

STRONGEST

foment loom

STRONG

breed compound concoct contrive develop excite form gather hatch impend mull plot project scheme start weave

Antonyms

STRONG

ignore neglect

VERB

churn

Synonyms

STRONGEST

boil bubble simmer swirl

STRONG

agitate convulse ferment foam froth jolt moil seethe toss

Antonyms

STRONGEST

freeze

VERB

confuse

Synonyms

STRONGEST

amaze astonish baffle befuddle bemuse complicate confound daze demoralize disconcert disorient distract embarrass fluster frustrate involve misinform mislead mortify muddle mystify obscure perplex perturb puzzle trouble unsettle upset worry

STRONG

abash addle becloud bedevil cloud clutter darken discomfit discompose discountenance faze fog fuddle nonplus rattle shame stump unhinge

WEAK

lead astray mess up render uncertain throw off throw off balance

Antonyms

STRONGEST

aid assist calm clarify clear up comfort encourage enlighten expect explain explicate facilitate help illuminate order please settle soothe support

WEAK

organize separate

VERB

egg on

Synonyms

WEAK

agitate arouse drive encourage excite exhort goad incite instigate pique prick prod prompt propel rally sic spur stimulate urge whip up

Antonyms

WEAK

discourage dissuade hold back talk out of

VERB

evoke

Synonyms

STRONGEST

arouse conjure elicit invoke provoke recall

STRONG

awaken call educe evince evolve excite extort extract milk raise rally rouse summon waken

WEAK

call forth give rise to

Antonyms

STRONG

calm deaden decrease ignore repress stop

WEAK

halt quell silence stifle suppress

VERB

excite

Synonyms

STRONGEST

agitate amaze anger animate annoy astound bother delight disturb energize irritate offend thrill turn on vex work up worry

STRONG

accelerate arouse awaken chafe discompose electrify elicit evoke fire fluster foment galvanize goad incite induce inflame infuriate instigate intensify jar jolt kindle madden mock move precipitate provoke quicken rouse start stimulate taunt tease titillate waken warm whet

WEAK

feed the fire touch off wake up

Antonyms

STRONGEST

aid assist calm depress discourage help make happy please quiet reassure soothe

STRONG

bore cool dampen deter disenchant dishearten dissuade dull end halt hinder praise prevent put out repress retard slow stop turn off weaken

WEAK

compose deaden lull moderate pacify tranquilize

VERB

fan

Synonyms

STRONGEST

arouse excite rouse whip up

STRONG

agitate enkindle expand extend increase stimulate

WEAK

add fuel impassion work up

Antonyms

STRONGEST

bore calm lull quiet

STRONG

abridge contract decrease lessen lower shorten shrink

VERB

ferment

Synonyms

STRONGEST

fester ripen simmer

STRONG

acidify boil brew bubble churn concoct dissolve effervesce evaporate excite fizz foam foment froth heat incite inflame leaven moil overflow provoke rise rouse seethe sour sparkle work

WEAK

be violent

Antonyms

STRONG

be happy calm cool dampen discourage dull freeze pacify stop tranquilize

VERB

fluster

Synonyms

STRONGEST

agitate bewilder confound confuse discombobulate distract muddle mystify nonplus perplex unhinge

STRONG

addle bother craze discompose disquiet disturb excite flip flurry frustrate fuddle hassle heat hurry puzzle rattle ruffle spook

WEAK

get to make nervous make waves psych throw off balance work up

Antonyms

STRONG

calm comfort compose help pacify quiet soothe

WEAK

settle

VERB

foment

Synonyms

STRONGEST

abet arouse brew incite whip up

STRONG

agitate cultivate encourage excite foster goad nurse nurture promote quicken raise set spur start stimulate

WEAK

fan the flames set on sow the seeds

Antonyms

STRONGEST

deter discourage

STRONG

calm conclude condemn depress destroy dissuade end finish ignore lull neglect quiet repress stop tranquilize

WEAK

cease dampen

VERB

get

Synonyms

STRONG

affect amuse arouse bend bias carry away dispose entertain excite gratify impress influence inspire move predispose prompt satisfy stimulate stir sway touch

WEAK

strike

VERB

incite

Synonyms

STRONGEST

abet agitate arouse encourage exhort foment inflame inspire instigate motivate prompt provoke rouse set off spur trigger urge whip up

STRONG

activate actuate animate coax craze drive excite force forward further goad impel induce influence inspirit persuade prick promote push raise set solicit stimulate taunt

WEAK

egg on fan the fire get to juice key up psych put up to talk into work up

Antonyms

STRONGEST

block calm dampen depress deter discourage dissuade halt lull prevent quiet soothe stop tranquilize

STRONG

cease check deaden delay finish hinder impede repress suppress

WEAK

prohibit

VERB

instigate

Synonyms

STRONGEST

abet bring about foment incite inflame initiate kindle plot prompt spur whip up

STRONG

actuate encourage goad hint impel insinuate move needle persuade plan raise rouse scheme start stimulate suggest urge

WEAK

add fuel egg on fire up make waves put up to rabble-rouse set on steam up turn on work up

Antonyms

STRONGEST

deter discourage dissuade halt neglect put out stop

STRONG

calm conclude depress finish ignore repress suppress

WEAK

prevent

VERB

muddle

Synonyms

STRONGEST

befuddle clutter complicate derange discombobulate disturb fluster perturb

STRONG

addle bewilder blunder botch bungle confound daze disarrange disorder disorient entangle foul jumble mess mix muck mumble murmur nonplus perplex rattle ravel ruffle scramble shuffle snafu snarl spoil stumble stupefy tangle throw tumble

WEAK

foul up louse up make a mess of misarrange mix up psych out throw off

Antonyms

STRONGEST

calm comfort explain order soothe

STRONG

arrange clarify clear up do well enlighten fix help organize speak clearly succeed uncomplicate untangle untwist

WEAK

educate explicate

VERB

perturb

Synonyms

STRONGEST

agitate alarm annoy bewilder confound confuse disconcert dismay disturb fluster irritate muddle perplex vex

STRONG

bother bug disarrange discompose discountenance disorder disquiet flurry needle pester ruffle trouble worry

WEAK

make a scene make waves

Antonyms

STRONGEST

aid assist assure calm clarify clear up comfort enlighten explain help make happy order organize please quiet reassure soothe

VERB

prod

Synonyms

STRONGEST

goad motivate prompt propel provoke remind spur stimulate

STRONG

crowd excite exhort goose impel instigate move pique prick push rouse sic sound spark trigger

WEAK

egg on jog memory turn on

Antonyms

STRONGEST

depress discourage dissuade halt prevent stop

STRONG

calm quiet repress suppress

VERB

raise

Synonyms

STRONGEST

cause set suggest

STRONG

abet activate advance arouse awaken broach evoke excite foment foster incite instigate kindle moot motivate provoke resurrect

WEAK

bring up put forward set on whip up

Antonyms

STRONG

bore calm deaden deter discourage dissuade halt lull prevent quiet repress stop

WEAK

abandon decrease ignore neglect reduce suppress

VERB

remind

Synonyms

STRONGEST

admonish advise caution emphasize mention note point out prod prompt recall remember stress suggest warn

STRONG

bethink cite hint imply intimate recollect reminisce retain retrospect revive

WEAK

bring back to bring to mind call attention call to mind call up give a cue jog one's memory make one remember make one think put in mind refresh memory

Antonyms

STRONGEST

forget ignore

VERB

roil

Synonyms

STRONGEST

disturb rile

STRONG

agitate annoy bother displease disquiet vex

Antonyms

STRONG

aid calm help make happy please soothe

VERB

set

Synonyms

STRONGEST

begin initiate raise

STRONG

abet commence foment instigate provoke

WEAK

put in motion set on whip up

Antonyms

STRONGEST

conclude end finish ignore neglect

STRONG

cease discourage halt prevent stop

WEAK

ascend displace dissuade go up hinder liquefy remove rise soften

VERB

shake

Synonyms

STRONGEST

convulse disturb jolt rattle rock roil shudder sway swing upset wave

STRONG

agitate brandish bump chatter churn commove concuss discompose disquiet dither dodder flap flicker flit flitter flourish fluctuate flutter jar jerk jog joggle jounce move oscillate palpitate perturb quail quake quaver reel ruffle shimmer shimmy shiver stagger succuss totter tremor twitter vibrate waggle water whip wobble

WEAK

set in motion

Antonyms

STRONGEST

steady

STRONG

be still

VERB

shake up

Synonyms

STRONGEST

disturb reorganize shock

WEAK

agitate break with past cause revolution churn up clean out clean up clear out liquidate make a clean sweep mix overturn purge remove rid turn upside down

Antonyms

WEAK

calm placate soothe

VERB

stimulate

Synonyms

STRONGEST

arouse encourage inspire prompt quicken spark spur trigger vitalize

STRONG

activate animate commove dynamize elate energize enliven exhilarate fan fire foment foster galvanize goad grab hook impel incite inflame innervate instigate jazz motivate move perk pique prod rouse send spirit support urge vivify whet

WEAK

build a fire under fire up get one going get one started innerve juice key up set up steam up turn on wake up work up

Antonyms

STRONGEST

block discourage dissuade halt stop

STRONG

bore dampen delay depress deter dishearten dull let go neglect release tire

WEAK

calm

VERB

stir

Synonyms

STRONGEST

affect arouse energize galvanize inflame inspire kindle prompt provoke raise rouse spark spur touch trigger whip up

STRONG

abet actuate agitate animate awaken bestir challenge craze drive electrify excite foment impel motivate move quicken rally rile rout set spook thrill urge vitalize wake waken whet

WEAK

add fuel to fire feed the fire make waves psych roust stir embers switch on work up

Antonyms

STRONGEST

calm depress discourage disenchant dissuade halt prevent stop

STRONG

bore dampen deaden dishearten dull hinder impede lull quiet repress retard slow tranquilize weaken

WEAK

laze leave alone rest wait

VERB

thrill

Synonyms

STRONGEST

animate delight electrify enchant fire up inspire tickle titillate wow

STRONG

arouse enthuse flush flutter galvanize glow grab juice move palpitate quicken quiver rally rouse score send stir tingle tremble

WEAK

blow away go over big key up knock one's socks off race one's motor turn on

Antonyms

STRONGEST

discourage disenchant repulse

STRONG

be still calm dissuade dull lose retard weaken

WEAK

bring down depress dishearten

VERB

trouble

Synonyms

STRONGEST

afflict agitate annoy burden concern disconcert disturb irk irritate perplex perturb plague sadden strain torment upset vex

STRONG

ail bug discommode discompose disoblige disquiet distress fret grieve harass harry inconvenience pain pester spook stress try

WEAK

burn up drive up the wall flip out get to give a bad time give a hard time impose on make a fuss make a scene make waves psych put out

Antonyms

STRONGEST

aid assist calm comfort delight help make happy order please quiet soothe

STRONG

support

WEAK

be content be happy

VERB

turn on

Synonyms

WEAK

arouse attract captivate enchant excite get started initiate introduce please show stimulate thrill titillate work up

Antonyms

WEAK

disenchant disgust displease turn off

VERB

upset

Synonyms

STRONGEST

agitate bewilder dismay distract disturb perturb unnerve unsettle

STRONG

afflict ail bug confound cramp craze debilitate derange discombobulate discompose disconcert disquiet distress flip floor flurry fluster grieve incapacitate indispose pother rattle ruffle sicken spook turn unhinge

WEAK

egg on fire up flip out get to give a hard time key up lay up make a scene make waves pick on psych rock the boat throw off balance turn on

Antonyms

STRONGEST

calm encourage explain quiet soothe

STRONG

aid allow assist clear up comfort cure help mend please settle

WEAK

delight make happy

VERB

wake/waken

Synonyms

WEAK

activate animate arouse awaken challenge enliven fire fire up freshen galvanize grasp jazz up key up kindle notice pep up provoke quicken rally renew rouse see steam up switch on understand whet zip up

Antonyms

WEAK

discourage dissuade nap sleep

VERB

whip up

Synonyms

STRONGEST

agitate arouse foment inflame instigate kindle provoke stir work up

WEAK

abet compel disturb drive goad hound prick prod push raise set set on spur start urge

Antonyms

STRONGEST

calm discourage dissuade halt lull prevent put out quiet soothe stop tranquilize

VERB

work up

Synonyms

STRONGEST

agitate animate excite get up inflame rouse

WEAK

arouse breed cause develop engender generate hatch improve incite induce instigate move muster up occasion produce spur

Antonyms

STRONGEST

calm deaden lull pacify quiet soothe tranquilize

WEAK

discourage dissuade

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Fox’s fear of losing games created a highly unusual situation where Murdoch was seeking to stir up trouble for a partner it pays billions, fraying a relationship that has lasted for decades.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 8, 2026

Simers tended to probe and kid and seek to stir up things, but Anderson also recognized that he could be highly accurate, perceptive and even fun.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 19, 2026

Even if a $150 night out is technically within your budget, the fact that you didn’t anticipate spending that much can stir up guilt or anxiety.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 27, 2026

In many parts of the ocean, strong storms stir up cooler water from below, which can weaken the storm.

From Science Daily • Dec. 25, 2025

“But don’t tell your mother. She’ll stir up trouble again.”

From "We Were Liars" by E. Lockhart

stir up

Example Sentences

Related Words