stir up anger

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "stir up anger" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when describing actions or events that provoke or incite feelings of anger in individuals or groups. Example: "The politician's remarks were designed to stir up anger among his supporters, rallying them for the upcoming election."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

A soft answer turneth away wrath, but grievous words stir up anger.

The New York Times

Every winter Fox News, seeking to stir up anger through the land, uncovers evidence of a war on Christmas.

The New York Times - Books

His strategy is taken from Proverbs 1 15: "A soft answer turneth away wrath; but grievous words stir up anger".

The New York Times

The organisation aimed to deliberately stir up anger in a heavily Muslim-populated area, but we sent a clear signal to the EDL that its attempt to intimidate the community was not welcome in Tower Hamlets.

The Guardian

Russia is trying to topple Angela Merkel by waging an information war designed to stir up anger in Germany over refugees, Nato's most senior expert on strategic communications has claimed.

The Guardian

Spitzer's letter, which was leaked online before its publication in the Archives of Sexual Behaviour, is sure to cause delight among gay civil rights groups and stir up anger among social conservatives, who have used the study to combat the acceptance of homosexuality as a normal part of human society.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

Supporters of losing candidates have threatened to bypass the courts, which many see as biased, and take to the streets.Results from the parliamentary election have already stirred up anger.

The Economist

The incident had "stirred up anger for the entire Chinese people at home and abroad", Wen added, in comments carried on the website of China's foreign ministry.

The Guardian

The incident stirred up anger in the Maratha community, who argued that the police and media were neglecting the case in the interests of political correctness.

The Guardian

A Brazilian court has convicted two men for the murder of prominent Amazon activists, but stirred up anger by acquitting the farm-owner who was accused of paying for the killings.

The Guardian

Democratic congressmen who are visiting Iraq this week stirred up anger among some Republicans when they questioned the reasons President Bush has used to justify possible military action against Iraq.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "stir up anger" to describe deliberate actions intended to provoke or exacerbate existing feelings of anger, particularly in contexts involving social or political tension.

Common error

Avoid using "stir up anger" in everyday situations where simpler terms like "annoy" or "irritate" would be more appropriate. The phrase is best reserved for situations with significant emotional or social implications.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "stir up anger" functions as a verb phrase that describes the act of inciting or provoking feelings of anger. As Ludwig AI explains, it describes actions or events that provoke or incite feelings of anger in individuals or groups.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Wiki

10%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "stir up anger" is a grammatically correct and usable expression that describes the act of provoking or inciting feelings of anger. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and provides various examples from reputable sources like The New York Times, The Guardian, and Huffington Post. While not exceedingly common, it finds frequent use in news and media contexts, with "incite anger" and "provoke anger" serving as close alternatives. When employing this phrase, writers should be mindful of its intensity, reserving it for situations where deliberate provocation or significant emotional arousal is at play.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

incite anger

This alternative directly implies the act of provoking or urging anger, similar to "stir up anger".

provoke anger

This suggests causing or eliciting anger, closely mirroring the meaning of "stir up anger".

arouse anger

This alternative means to awaken or bring about feelings of anger, similar to "stir up anger".

foment anger

This implies instigating or promoting anger, sharing a similar connotation with "stir up anger".

inflame anger

This suggests intensifying or heightening existing anger, related to the concept of "stir up anger".

instigate anger

This means to initiate or trigger anger, related to the concept of "stir up anger".

exacerbate anger

This implies making existing anger worse or more intense, related to the concept of "stir up anger".

trigger anger

This means to cause or initiate anger, related to the concept of "stir up anger".

spark anger

This suggests initiating or igniting anger, similar to "stir up anger" but with a stronger emphasis on suddenness.

rouse anger

This means to awaken or excite feelings of anger, similar to "stir up anger".

FAQs

How can I use "stir up anger" in a sentence?

You can use "stir up anger" to describe actions or events that incite feelings of anger in individuals or groups. For example, "The politician's divisive speech was intended to "stir up anger" among voters."

What are some alternatives to "stir up anger"?

Alternatives include "incite anger", "provoke anger", or "arouse anger", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "stir up angry"?

No, the correct form is "stir up anger", where "anger" is a noun. "Angry" is an adjective and would not fit grammatically in this phrase.

What is the difference between "stir up anger" and "cause anger"?

"Stir up anger" implies that there is already some underlying feeling of anger present, which is then amplified or provoked. "Cause anger" is more general and simply means to create feelings of anger where none existed before.