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.
Words Nearby agitate
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use agitate in a sentence
California-based Lost Spirits uses a chemical reactor, while Ohio-based Cleveland Whiskey places its spirits in tanks together with barrel wood, then agitates the mixture and applies pressure.
At the same time, TV ad buyers are growing agitated by linear TV’s supply and demand dynamic.
‘This was the zeitgeist year’: How TV networks sold advertisers on streaming in this year’s upfront | Tim Peterson | September 30, 2020 | DigidayVoters’ short-term memory is why we’re seeing Democrats agitating to take action.
Why House Democrats have good reason to be anxious about no coronavirus relief deal | Amber Phillips | September 17, 2020 | Washington PostBy that night, protesters and demonstrators gathered to express their outrage, and were further agitated as police pepper-sprayed them.
Kenosha’s looting is a symptom of a decrepit democracy | Aaron Ross Coleman | September 4, 2020 | VoxThat’s been true for YouTube stars who have agitated against its content-recommendation and advertising algorithms as well as Vine stars who saw Twitter allow that platform to wither away.
‘There is a battle going on’: TikTok-Instagram rivalry for creators heating up | Tim Peterson | August 3, 2020 | Digiday
He is always calling on “we,” “the population,” or “the people” to rally in the streets and agitate for a better future.
Zamora was handsome, passionate, and used his time on The Real World to educate and agitate.
Their leaders said some 20,000 people turned out to agitate in the Russian capital; officials put the number lower, around 8,000.
Neo-Nationalist Violence Targets Central Asians In Russia | Anna Nemtsova | November 6, 2013 | THE DAILY BEASTWhen they are out of power Republicans agitate to cut taxes and oppose tax increases.
Fiscal Cliff Vote Fails Due to Republican Theology on Taxes | Daniel Gross | December 21, 2012 | THE DAILY BEASTAn American first lady was embracing a brand known for its willingness to push boundaries, to agitate, and even to offend.
Michelle Obama in Alexander McQueen: Lady in Red | Robin Givhan | January 19, 2011 | THE DAILY BEASTI suppose they didn't want to agitate the duke until the last moment and couldn't find Harold until this morning.
Ancestors | Gertrude AthertonThis is a painful thought, which, I believe, does much agitate his Majesty now and afterwards.
History Of Friedrich II. of Prussia, Vol. VII. (of XXI.) | Thomas CarlyleShe herself continued to agitate Cecil and the council by the favours she lavished on Leicester.
The World's Greatest Books, Vol X | VariousThese, and other more subtile questions--like the nature of angels--began to agitate the convent in the ninth century.
Beacon Lights of History, Volume V | John LordThat question we are too wise to agitate, until the country recovers somewhat from the anxieties and perplexities of the war.
The College, the Market, and the Court | Caroline H. Dall
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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