agitate 1 of 2

1
as in to stir
to cause (as a liquid) to move about in a circle especially repeatedly this room could use a ceiling fan to agitate the stuffy air a bit

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
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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

agitation

2 of 2

noun

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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 agitate
Verb
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
Noun
Aster hopes the new seismic stations will reveal why the lava lake can shift from agitation to years of quiet and why, in earlier times, Erebus erupted more violently. Bypaul Voosen, science.org, 3 Dec. 2024 Meanwhile, Alzheimer’s agitation, a symptom that can cause a patient to feel restless and worried, is estimated to affect around 60% to 70% of patients with the disease, according to some studies. Annika Kim Constantino, CNBC, 15 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for agitate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for agitate
Verb
  • The formation of the team has stirred unease among some DOJ officials who worry that Musk's DOGE operatives could move aggressively to slash department personnel and programs, sources told ABC News.
    Will Steakin, ABC News, 13 Mar. 2025
  • From there, fill with ice, and stir until fully chilled for about 15 seconds.
    Claudia Alarcón, Forbes, 12 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • 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
  • The graves had been disturbed, but researchers could still identify one as an adult woman.
    Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 12 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • For some in the room, Paul’s rebellion reflected their deep unease over Trump’s protectionism, which has rattled stock markets, shaken consumer confidence, and strained America’s relationships with its allies.
    Eric Cortellessa, TIME, 18 Mar. 2025
  • This structure has been shaken in less than three months of President Trump’s second administration.
    Llewellyn King, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Gadot has previously discussed being an indigenous Israeli and how her grandfather was his family’s sole survivor of the Holocaust and resettled in Israel.
    Kevin Dolak, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 Mar. 2025
  • With Presidents Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin set to discuss an end to the war in Ukraine, the fate of this city and its people hangs in the balance.
    Clarissa Ward, CNN, 18 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • For years, the Fed was the North Star for markets—every rate tweak or hint of tightening sent Wall Street into a frenzy.
    Dan Irvine, Forbes, 21 Mar. 2025
  • The Labrador quickly threw himself into a frenzy of excitement after realizing that the carpet beneath him had been updated.
    Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 21 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Extreme deficits may lead to obsessive food tracking, anxiety around eating, or disordered eating patterns.
    Heather Jones, Verywell Health, 19 Mar. 2025
  • Some patients who try to quit benzodiazepines suffer extreme anxiety, memory loss and intense physical pain.
    Alex Knapp, Forbes, 19 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • The First Amendment’s free speech protection is under siege by the Trump administration and that should bother every American, including Republicans.
    New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 16 Mar. 2025
  • By the end of the day, my T-zone had turned a little bit oily, but honestly, not enough to bother me.
    Denise Primbet, Glamour, 16 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Praise God … my entire body is vibrating with joy right now.
    Jessica Lynch, Billboard, 10 Mar. 2025
  • The room looked like an airport lounge — gleaming white tables with copies of Foreign Policy, an inaudible conference livestream — and vibrated with the energy of journalists from around the world begging to get inside.
    Caitlin L. Chandler, The Dial, 6 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Agitate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/agitate. Accessed 25 Mar. 2025.

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