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
1
as in frenzy
a state of wildly excited activity or emotion
knew immediately, from the horses' agitation, that something terrible was happening
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in anxiety
an uneasy state of mind usually over the possibility of an anticipated misfortune or trouble
experienced a great deal of agitation over whether she had an appropriate dress for her husband's inauguration
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of agitate
Nathaniel Weixel, The Hill, 5 May 2025
After accruing a stake of about 1% in WBD, hedge fund Sessa Capital has been agitating for the company to restructure.
—Dade Hayes, Deadline, 11 Apr. 2025
Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 17 May 2025
Users then activate the agitation system in the Cuddy or throw some sawdust or alternative desiccant atop the feces in the Cuddy Lite to eliminate odor and dry the waste out for use as a composting material or for alternative disposal.
—New Atlas, 15 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for agitate
Verb
Moderate and battleground-district Republicans are pushing back on threats to Medicaid, while conservatives and budget hawks are agitating for deeper cuts.
—Nathaniel Weixel, The Hill, 5 May 2025
After accruing a stake of about 1% in WBD, hedge fund Sessa Capital has been agitating for the company to restructure.
—Dade Hayes, Deadline, 11 Apr. 2025
Noun
Politics continues to trump business at this year’s Cannes film festival, with little in the way of deals out of the Marché, but lots of activist agitation on the red carpet and beyond.
—Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 17 May 2025
Users then activate the agitation system in the Cuddy or throw some sawdust or alternative desiccant atop the feces in the Cuddy Lite to eliminate odor and dry the waste out for use as a composting material or for alternative disposal.
—New Atlas, 15 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for agitate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for agitate
Verb
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Since returning to the White House for his second term, the president has vowed to replicate the impact of his original travel bans, which stirred several legal battles with courts that blocked the mandate.—
Anthony Robledo,
USA Today,
6 June 2025
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By stirring nationalist fervor and outsourcing conflict to criminal networks, Maduro avoids direct military confrontation — while escalating pressure on Guyana.—
Antonio Maria Delgado,
Miami Herald,
6 June 2025
Verb
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Create Do-Not-Disturb Prompts To Discourage Interruptions Experiment with reducing your availability to interruptions by following specific practices that signal to others you shouldn’t be disturbed.—
Caroline Ceniza-Levine,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2025
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Perhaps your time off request isn’t approved, or your vacation plans have been disturbed by your colleagues.—
Liz Simmons,
StyleCaster,
27 May 2025
Verb
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Carnal, with care – Jis shook the bedrock of the cordial, conservative Guadalajara community with filth, camp and candor.—
Holly Jones,
Variety,
9 June 2025
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The bizarre blackouts are first explained with a bizarre hit-and-run that shook Larkin months earlier.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
8 June 2025
Verb
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Hegseth planned to appear before the House Appropriations Defense Subcommittee alongside Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff, and acting Pentagon Comptroller Bryn Woollacott MacDonnell to discuss the administration's upcoming 2026 budget request.—
Anne Flaherty,
ABC News,
10 June 2025
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Now seems like a good time to look at each one and discuss the highlights of the different articles, player options and plug in rules on display in each.—
Rob Wieland,
Forbes.com,
10 June 2025
Noun
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The shot sent Fenway Park into a frenzy and left the Yankees ruminating over a few calls that didn’t go their way in the top of the frame.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
14 June 2025
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But not all semiconductor companies have benefited from the AI frenzy.—
Rashi Shrivastava,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2025
Noun
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Survey respondents’ anxiety over unemployment also declined, but a separate measure of employment trends from the Conference Board dipped slightly, reflecting lingering economic uncertainty.—
Tom Chivers,
semafor.com,
10 June 2025
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When an industry accelerates this fast, anxiety is sure to follow and a growing number of CEOs aren’t asking whether to build with AI.—
Alexander Puutio,
Forbes.com,
10 June 2025
Verb
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Understandably, the online narrative bothered the director as well.—
Brian Davids,
HollywoodReporter,
6 June 2025
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This is an arrangement that bothers Kagi's founder.—
Ryan Whitwam,
ArsTechnica,
6 June 2025
Verb
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The males climb up trees and produce their shrill songs en masse, using muscles to vibrate a rigid part of their exoskeletons called tymbals.—
Jack Knudson,
Discover Magazine,
30 May 2025
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The green earth below the stone seems to vibrate with Dorian’s physical presence.—
Jayson Greene,
Vulture,
30 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Agitate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/agitate. Accessed 18 Jun. 2025.
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