noun
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a person or thing that stirs
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informal a person who deliberately causes trouble
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informal a political activist or agitator
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of stirrer
Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; see origin at stir 1, -er 1
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.
See Examples For:
In 1905, after a long day of playing, he left a stirrer in his cup of soda outside overnight.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 4, 2026
A stirrer made from a long piece of turned wood with a serrated head was rolled between the palms for a good whisking action.
From BBC ● Dec. 10, 2023
Using a plastic stirrer, she gently swirled her circles.
From New York Times ● Jun. 2, 2022
If you're clumsy, attach it to a wooden coffee stirrer.
From Salon ● Jan. 15, 2022
Hawking; as lames tbe First pointed out, is an extreme stirrer up of passions.
From "The Once and Future King" by T. H. White
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The proposal would have barred restaurants and food retailers in Orange County’s third-largest city from using plastic utensils, foodware, straws, stirrers, bags, water bottles or containers, as well as products made of expanded polystyrene.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 29, 2023
She touted previous efforts to reduce plastic waste, including a 2020 ban on straws and drink stirrers made from the material, as well as a tax on single-use grocery bags.
From Salon ● Jan. 23, 2023
England banned plastic straws, cotton swabs and drink stirrers in 2020.
From New York Times ● Jan. 17, 2023
Straws and plastic drink stirrers made from Danimer’s PHA are being used in Starbucks and Dunkin’ Donuts and large venues like Sofi Stadium in Inglewood, California, Croskrey said.
From Seattle Times ● Aug. 9, 2022
I tap Kaila’s good hand with the ballpoint and motion to Mom, who’s moved on to straightening the stirrers and straws at the self-service station.
From "A High Five for Glenn Burke" by Phil Bildner
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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.