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
For years, Mira has been agitating for more independence.
—
Anna Wiener, New Yorker, 4 May 2026
Describing this photo, documentary photographer Chantal Pinzi says that Ghita Jhaite's horse was agitated after a confrontation with other stallions that caused the rider to fall.
—Kamala Thiagarajan, NPR, 26 Apr. 2026
Submerge the jacket and gently agitate the water with your hands to loosen dirt.
—Katie Cloyd, Martha Stewart, 22 Apr. 2026
Angel, who was Tish’s best friend, gets increasingly agitated by her friend’s disappearance.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 20 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for agitate
Anna Wiener, New Yorker, 4 May 2026
Describing this photo, documentary photographer Chantal Pinzi says that Ghita Jhaite's horse was agitated after a confrontation with other stallions that caused the rider to fall.
—Kamala Thiagarajan, NPR, 26 Apr. 2026
Submerge the jacket and gently agitate the water with your hands to loosen dirt.
—Katie Cloyd, Martha Stewart, 22 Apr. 2026
Angel, who was Tish’s best friend, gets increasingly agitated by her friend’s disappearance.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 20 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for agitate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for agitate
Verb
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February 19 – March 20 A conversation could stir feelings that are older than the topic itself.—
Tarot.com,
The Orlando Sentinel,
15 May 2026
-
Bring just to a boil over medium, stirring constantly until sugar is dissolved.—
Midwest Living,
Midwest Living,
14 May 2026
Verb
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Instead of relying on a traditional metal antenna to capture a signal, the system uses lasers to monitor how incoming radio waves disturb the atoms.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
17 May 2026
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Disrupting the possibility of cheerful solitude is both a stylistic and social shift, disturbing the film’s non-narrative serenity while depicting how dismantling the safety net displaces basic functions onto those least able to bear them.—
Vadim Rizov,
IndieWire,
16 May 2026
Verb
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Players were visibly shaken, as were many in the stands, as medical staff from both teams and EMS placed him on a stretcher and carted him off the field.—
Ryan Morik,
FOXNews.com,
15 May 2026
-
Rinse under cold water 1 minute, shaking to ensure a thorough rinse.—
Midwest Living,
Midwest Living,
15 May 2026
Verb
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The Swallows were a pretty dull group of four siblings—Susan was always doing the cooking and discussing the best way to scramble egg, while bossy John was some kind of Tory MP in the making.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 May 2026
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Joining me to discuss rising production costs, shifts in viewing preferences, and the demise of one of the pillars of late night television is USA TODAY TV Critic Kelly Lawler.—
Dana Taylor,
USA Today,
19 May 2026
Verb
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Now the dog is back to bothering her brother and showing off her sassy personality.—
Kelli Bender,
PEOPLE,
15 May 2026
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This is a nakedly partisan power grab, and state officials haven’t really bothered to deny it.—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
14 May 2026
Verb
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Days after the shooting stunned Shreveport, a whirlwind of police lights, camera crews and grieving relatives swarmed the neighborhood where the killings unfolded, the streets vibrating with sirens, the air shrouded in questions and disbelief.—
Alaa Elassar,
CNN Money,
10 May 2026
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Then the controllers tried vibrating the drill to knock the rock loose and had no luck.—
Adam Kovac,
Scientific American,
7 May 2026
Verb
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Archaeologists then debated whether the tunnel was some kind of underground agricultural or industrial installation, but its scale and uniqueness in the region ruled out that possibility.—
Maria Mocerino,
Interesting Engineering,
16 May 2026
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Some of the best scenes in Clarissa are when the young friends gather around the table to debate the state of postcolonial literature and the irony of a newly democratic nation under military rule.—
Lovia Gyarkye,
HollywoodReporter,
16 May 2026
Verb
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But during the aufguss ceremony at BASIN Glacial Waters, people smiled and laughed and swayed to the music, and Kyan’s dance-like towel moves distracted me from the discomfort of the heat.—
Jen Murphy,
Condé Nast Traveler,
15 May 2026
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Inside an intimate pub, however, filling out the scene with empty tables could distract from the hurried, nervous nature of the filmmaker’s original intent.—
Todd Martens,
Los Angeles Times,
14 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Agitate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/agitate. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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