agitator

[ aj-i-tey-ter ]

/ ˈædʒ ɪˌteɪ tər /

noun

a person who stirs up others in order to upset the status quo and further a political, social, or other cause: The boss said he would fire any union agitators.

a machine or device for agitating and mixing.

Nearby words

agitate, agitated, agitated depression, agitation, agitato, agitator, agitpop, agitprop, aglaia, aglaophon of thasos, aglare

Origin of agitator

First recorded in 1730–40; agitate + -or²

Related forms

ag·i·ta·to·ri·al

[aj-i-tuh-tawr-ee-uh l, -tohr-] /ˌædʒ ɪ təˈtɔr i əl, -ˈtoʊr-/, adjective

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

Examples from the Web for agitators

But their “harshest” was on March 14, when pro-Russian agitators attacked armed with clubs, baseball bats and knives.
Soccer Hooligans Prep Ukraine for Putin|Jamie Dettmer|March 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
She later told me she recognized several Socialist Workers Party agitators in the room.
UK Jew’s Harassment Claim Fails|Paul Usiskin|April 1, 2013|DAILY BEAST
He is the last man to listen to agitators and sedition-mongers—of that I am quite sure.
Aletta|Bertram Mitford
It is a favorite phrase used by the agitators in addressing the masses.
Under the Southern Cross|Maturin M. Ballou

The situation to-day he largely attributes to “the work of agitators and demagogues.”
The Arena|Various
When new laws are passed, the agitators explain them to the masses in terms that they will understand.
Area Handbook for Albania|Eugene K. Keefe
But in spite of the shouts of agitators, and wine given for nothing, the crowd hesitated.
The Pharaoh and the Priest|Alexander Glovatski

British Dictionary definitions for agitators

agitator

/ (ˈædʒɪˌteɪtə) /

noun

a person who agitates for or against a cause, etc

a device, machine, or part used for mixing, shaking, or vibrating a material, usually a fluid

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