Stirring
adj.joyful, hopefulliterary
What it means
Inspiring strong and uplifting emotion.
Reach for it when praising words, music, or events that awaken strong and uplifting feeling
The choir gave a stirring performance.
Choose between these
6- everyday
when energy, courage, or collective enthusiasm rises
not when A quiet personal tribute can be stirring without rousing a crowd.
- warm
when the feeling leads toward hope or purposeful action
not when Stirring may simply intensify emotion without offering a model to follow.
- warm
when genuine emotion touches people deeply
not when Moving includes sadness and tenderness, while stirring often suggests uplift or action.
- professional
when images or memories are vividly called to mind
not when Evocative work may be subtle rather than emotionally forceful.
- formal
when the speaker's own strong conviction drives the effect
not when Music or events can be stirring without expressing an individual's passion.
- literary
when deliberately elevated language suits profound emotion
not when Everyday praise rarely needs this heightened, almost devotional phrase.
Said against
3- uninspiring
- numbing
- flat
It naturally appears in
3- stirring speech
Her stirring speech renewed the volunteers' courage.
- stirring performance
The choir offered a stirring performance of the workers' song.
- stirring tribute
A stirring tribute honored the crews who rebuilt the bridge.
Where this comes from
- wiktionary, English adjective, inspiring strong emotion sense opens in a new tab · retrieved 2026-07-26
The definition and the example on this page are written here. The dictionaries above ground which meaning is being described, not the wording.