churn

verb

Definition of churnnext
1
as in to swirl
to be in a state of violent rolling motion a churning sea made getting to the island a risky undertaking

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to stir
to cause (as a liquid) to move about in a circle especially repeatedly churn the cream until it turns into butter

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of churn The three conditions that have always predicted a client will churn. — Terdawn Deboe, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026 This season’s combination of a sputtering offense and a shaky bullpen – exposed again Sunday as the Brewers padded their lead in the late innings – is already way too stomach-churning for Dodger fans. — Jim Alexander, Oc Register, 17 Aug. 2026 But the journey can turn rough when wind and sea conditions deteriorate, Agnos said, particularly around the Cyclades, where seasonal Meltemi winds can churn up the Aegean. — Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 16 Aug. 2026 But rather than embrace that way of thinking as her ethos going forward, Teng chooses to elide much (but not all) of the most stomach-churning footage at her disposal. — David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 14 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for churn
Recent Examples of Synonyms for churn
  1. swirl
  2. stir
  3. boil
  4. spin
  5. seethe
Verb
  • In the days after Ocasio-Cortez began documenting her egg-freezing, rumors swirled around her relationship status.
    — Anna Russell, New Yorker, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Collectible, colorful, and wonderfully over the top, their swirling pattern brings personality to any pour.
    — Mina Dragani, Architectural Digest, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of swirl
Verb
  • Simmer, covered, stirring occasionally, until macaroni is tender, 7 to 9 minutes.
    — Better Homes & Gardens, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Aug. 2026
  • High inflation and a currency crash triggered widespread protests that led to a brutal crackdown in January, and some officials in Tehran are concerned today’s economic woes could stir more unrest.
    — Jason Ma, Fortune, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of stir
Verb
  • Local tradition holds that eggs soaked and boiled in the urine of young boys protect the body against heat stroke and joint pain.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Whisk together boiling water and strawberry gelatin in a large bowl until dissolved, 1 to 2 minutes.
    — Erin Merhar, Southern Living, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of boil
Verb
  • That was a move partly instigated to develop a new crop of fast bowlers, but a home series defeat to Bangladesh two years ago and the loss of the first Test to England in October 2024 prompted the PCB to switch to spin-friendly tracks.
    — Ahsan Iftikhar Nagi, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026
  • His approach, and the propaganda machine that has spun it as a law-and-order success story, has turned Bukele into an international figure, and cast leaders like Petro and Cepeda, who helped design Petro’s strategy, as soft on crime.
    — Daniel Castro, New Yorker, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of spin
Verb
  • In the very human-scale role of Chef, all that glamour and pageantry seethes just beneath the skin.
    — Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 2 Aug. 2026
  • Ser Criston Cole, more than perhaps any other character in this story, is seething with resentment.
    — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026
Definition of seethe

Browse Nearby Words

churls
churn
churned
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Churn.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/churn. Accessed 22 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on churn

Nglish: Translation of churn for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about churn

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