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agitate

[aj-i-teyt]

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SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR agitate ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object), ag·i·tat·ed, ag·i·tat·ing.

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.

verb (used without object), ag·i·tat·ed, ag·i·tat·ing.

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

1580–90; < Latin agitātus (past participle of agitāre to set in motion), equivalent to ag- (root of agere to drive) + -it- frequentative suffix + -ātus -ate¹

Related formsag·i·ta·ble

[aj-i-tuh-buhl] /ˈædʒ ɪ tə bəl/, adjectiveag·i·ta·tive, adjectiveo·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.

Synonyms for agitate

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR agitate ON THESAURUS.COM

1. disturb, toss. 3. wave. 4. ruffle, fluster, roil. 5. dispute.

Antonyms for agitate

1. calm, soothe.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for agitative

intriguing, thrilling, impressive, interesting, breathtaking, astonishing, appealing, dramatic, flashy, lively, hectic, dangerous, moving, stimulating, provocative, distressing, disturbing, annoying, tormenting, overwhelming

British Dictionary definitions for agitative

agitate

verb

(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

Derived Formsagitated, adjectiveagitatedly, adverb

Word Origin for agitate

C16: from Latin agitātus, from agitāre to move to and fro, set into motion, from agere to act, do

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

Word Origin and History for agitative

agitate

v.

1580s, "to disturb," from Latin agitatus, past participle of agitare "to put in constant motion, drive onward, impel," frequentative of agere "to move, drive" (see agitation). Literal sense of "move to and fro, shake" is from 1590s. Related: Agitated; agitating.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper