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
The decision of big brands and banks to pull money from Republican politicians who agitated against the outcome of the US presidential election was a major story after the storming of the Capitol.
It’s time to finally drain the swamp, one company at a time | Judy Samuelson | January 27, 2021 | QuartzWomen in a number of countries had been agitating for the vote before the First World War, and the argument was that you don’t have a stake in society in the way men do, so you should stay at home.
Humans Have Gotten Nicer and Better at Making War - Issue 94: Evolving | Steve Paulson | January 6, 2021 | NautilusThe challenge facing Pelosi is markedly different from the one she faced two years ago, when a platoon of lawmakers agitated for her and other top honchos to step aside for a younger generation of leaders.
Pelosi’s likely final term as speaker is set to begin with a scramble for votes | Mike DeBonis | January 2, 2021 | Washington PostAlexion has been actively shopping for a buyer since at least May, when activist hedge fund Elliott Management began publicly agitating for a sale.
Why shareholders had a severe adverse reaction to AstraZeneca’s Alexion deal | Jeremy Kahn | December 14, 2020 | FortuneThe researchers knew that humans get agitated when confronted with a lack of social contact—but the neurological basis for those emotions wasn’t well known before, they said.
You’re not crazy—you really hunger for social contact, scientists say | kdunn6 | November 24, 2020 | Fortune
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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