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
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.
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
If you're clumsy, attach it to a wooden coffee stirrer.
From Salon • Jan. 15, 2022
Relatively inexpensive calorimeters often consist of two thin-walled cups that are nested in a way that minimizes thermal contact during use, along with an insulated cover, handheld stirrer, and simple thermometer.
From Textbooks • Feb. 14, 2019
I glanced over at Ben, who was talking animatedly, a coffee stirrer dancing in his mouth as he spoke.
From "Paper Towns" by John Green
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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.