agitate
to move or force into violent, irregular action: The hurricane winds agitated the sea.
to shake or move briskly: The machine agitated the mixture.
to move to and fro; impart regular motion to.
to disturb or excite emotionally; arouse; perturb: a crowd agitated to a frenzy by impassioned oratory; a man agitated by disquieting news.
to call attention to by speech or writing; discuss; debate: to agitate the question.
to consider on all sides; revolve in the mind; plan.
to arouse or attempt to arouse public interest and support, as in some political or social cause or theory: to agitate for the repeal of a tax.
Origin of agitate
1Other words for agitate
Opposites for agitate
Other words from agitate
- ag·i·ta·ble [aj-i-tuh-buhl], /ˈædʒ ɪ tə bəl/, adjective
- ag·i·ta·tive, adjective
- o·ver·ag·i·tate, verb (used with object), o·ver·ag·i·tat·ed, o·ver·ag·i·tat·ing.
- pre·ag·i·tate, verb (used with object), pre·ag·i·tat·ed, pre·ag·i·tat·ing.
- re·ag·i·tate, verb, re·ag·i·tat·ed, re·ag·i·tat·ing.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use agitate in a sentence
Ever since that 2011 victory, anti-government elements have been agitating to topple Pheu Thai.
Thailand’s Prime Minister Toppled by ‘The Iron Triangle’ | Lennox Samuels | May 7, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTTherefore, Western supporters of the protests, like John Mccain, are agitating on behalf of violent Ukrainian fascism.
When I contacted Skillt he was in Moscow, on his way to agitating in Kiev.
Gangs of attractive, topless women condemning religion, agitating against misogyny, and fighting dictatorship.
Were the neo-imperialists still strong, they would be loudly agitating for a new cold war with China.
Why Doesn’t Anyone Care About the Rising U.S.-China Tension? | Peter Beinart | December 16, 2013 | THE DAILY BEAST
I must aspire to the agitating transports of self-devotion, in scenes of sacrifice and peril!
The Pastor's Fire-side Vol. 3 of 4 | Jane PorterFear knocked loudly at her heart, whenever she asked of it this agitating question.
The World Before Them | Susanna MoodieIn these ideas, agitating the heart of Phlippon, behold the origin of the French Revolution.
Madame Roland, Makers of History | John S. C. AbbottAncient art was the garment in which the young and world-agitating ideas of Christianity were compelled to veil themselves.
The Catacombs of Rome | William Henry WithrowIt is the men who propound agitating ideas and who revolutionize the character of nations, that are persecuted.
Beacon Lights of History, Volume I | John Lord
British Dictionary definitions for agitate
/ (ˈædʒɪˌteɪt) /
(tr) to excite, disturb, or trouble (a person, the mind, or feelings); worry
(tr) to cause to move vigorously; shake, stir, or disturb
(intr; often foll by for or against) to attempt to stir up public opinion for or against something
(tr) to discuss or debate in order to draw attention to or gain support for (a cause, etc): to agitate a political cause
Origin of agitate
1Derived forms of agitate
- agitated, adjective
- agitatedly, adverb
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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