1
2
as in to disturb
to trouble the mind of; to make uneasy
there's no need to agitate the patient about little things
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to shake
to make a series of small irregular or violent movements
set the washing machine so it will agitate for four minutes before going into the rinse cycle
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in to discuss
to talk about (an issue) usually from various points of view and for the purpose of arriving at a decision or opinion
a question which has been agitated by the legislature time and time again
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of agitate
No, the innies cannot get to civilization and attempt to agitate for their civil rights.
—
Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 7 Feb. 2025
The tech migration to Trump began before the election and helped get him to the White House, as entrepreneurs like Musk and David Sacks raised millions for him and used their platforms to agitate for his election and troll Harris.
—Steven Zeitchik, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 Feb. 2025
Repeat steps 3 through 5 anywhere from three to four more times until the water remains clean after submerging and agitating the pillowcase.
—Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 20 Jan. 2025
Stocks often agitate for lower rates from the Federal Reserve, as easy money tends to feed speculation.
—Bill Stone, Forbes, 12 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for agitate
Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 7 Feb. 2025
The tech migration to Trump began before the election and helped get him to the White House, as entrepreneurs like Musk and David Sacks raised millions for him and used their platforms to agitate for his election and troll Harris.
—Steven Zeitchik, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 Feb. 2025
Repeat steps 3 through 5 anywhere from three to four more times until the water remains clean after submerging and agitating the pillowcase.
—Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 20 Jan. 2025
Stocks often agitate for lower rates from the Federal Reserve, as easy money tends to feed speculation.
—Bill Stone, Forbes, 12 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for agitate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for agitate
Verb
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Bring vinegar, water, sugar, salt, and mustard seeds to a boil in a small saucepan over high, stirring often.—
Alana Al-Hatlani,
Southern Living,
2 Mar. 2025
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Drown them with an ample amount of water and stir to confirm that everything is cold to the touch.—
KANSAS CITY STAR WEATHER BOT,
Kansas City Star,
1 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Carsley said during his spell as interim coach that White still had his ‘do not disturb’ status activated after Southgate’s departure last summer.—
Oliver Kay,
The Athletic,
13 Mar. 2025
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The graves had been disturbed, but researchers could still identify one as an adult woman.—
Aspen Pflughoeft,
Miami Herald,
12 Mar. 2025
Verb
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George may be wild about her, but his trust in her is shaken.—
Stephanie Zacharek,
TIME,
6 Mar. 2025
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Among the official White House records housed in the Jimmy Carter Library and Museum, in Atlanta, is a photograph of the late president shaking hands with an 80-year-old Black schoolteacher, Septima Poinsette Clark.—
Elaine Weiss,
The Atlantic,
6 Mar. 2025
Verb
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In a recent interview with The Art Newspaper, Cave discussed his fondness for the figures, and his ‘The Devil — A Life’ series, which is currently on display at Museum Voorlinden in Wassenaar, Netherlands.—
Tyler Jenke,
Billboard,
6 Mar. 2025
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Consuelos and Ripa regularly discuss married life on their morning talk show.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
6 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Gathering at Scripps Research’s third annual Pandemic Preparedness Symposium last week, researchers working in virology and chemistry did not bother to debate whether or not H5N1 avian influenza will clear this rapidly shrinking hurdle.—
Paul Sisson,
The Mercury News,
3 Mar. 2025
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In the show’s latter years, however, that’s mostly been condensed down to one sewing challenge and one ball — season 13 didn’t even bother with the sewing challenge, just hitting the single ball.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
28 Feb. 2025
Verb
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In sumptuously vibrating chords in the first movement of Schubert’s Fantasy, Olafsson’s touch was a little wetter and more muted, Wang’s percussive and as coolly etched as a polygraph.—
Zachary Woolfe,
New York Times,
20 Feb. 2025
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Even the film’s basic exposition, showing Anna working in Klaus’s household and receiving her fateful instructions from Hansen, is richly suggestive of the turmoil vibrating beneath the orderly domestic surface.—
Richard Brody,
The New Yorker,
5 Feb. 2025
Verb
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The ghosts debate the nature of China’s modernity, the struggle between Confucian and Legalist traditions, and the influence of Japanese versus European ideas on the New Culture Movement.—
Philip Tinari,
Artforum,
1 Mar. 2025
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The science on transgender procedures, including hormone replacement and surgery, is hotly debated.—
Brady Knox,
Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government,
1 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Have we been distracted too much by all the verbal fireworks this season from CK, Phillip, and Seychelle to notice that Lete is an absolute assassin out there?—
Dalton Ross,
EW.com,
5 Mar. 2025
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Grave screamed for help, but security personnel were distracted by the game and not paying attention, the lawsuit said.—
Louis Casiano,
Fox News,
4 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Agitate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/agitate. Accessed 15 Mar. 2025.
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