: to cause (someone) to feel a strong emotion and a desire to do something
The speech stirred up the crowd.
2
: to cause (something) to move up into and through the air or water
The workers stirred up a lot of dust.
3
: to cause (something, usually something bad or unpleasant) to happen
They're trying to stir up trouble.
But, of course, there's a reason politicians generally try to communicate deliberately: It helps them avoid saying things that might offend voters or stir up controversy. Philip Bump
I'm not a rebel, trying to stir things up just to be provocative. Norma Klein
… the incident stirred up a hornet's nest of protest and indignation. Robert T. Martinott