1
2
as in to disturb
to trouble the mind of; to make uneasy
there's no need to agitate the patient about little things
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to shake
to make a series of small irregular or violent movements
set the washing machine so it will agitate for four minutes before going into the rinse cycle
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in to discuss
to talk about (an issue) usually from various points of view and for the purpose of arriving at a decision or opinion
a question which has been agitated by the legislature time and time again
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of agitate
What is the best way to investigate a spirit without agitating it?
—
Maggie Menderski, Louisville Courier Journal, 10 Oct. 2025
As the questions went on, Porter became visibility agitated and went as far as trying to end the interview.
—Julia Manchester, The Hill, 8 Oct. 2025
Immerse your berries in the water and gently agitate them.
—Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, 29 Sep. 2025
The nearness of bees, and of other things that agitate most people, calms me.
—Rivka Galchen, New Yorker, 21 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for agitate
Maggie Menderski, Louisville Courier Journal, 10 Oct. 2025
As the questions went on, Porter became visibility agitated and went as far as trying to end the interview.
—Julia Manchester, The Hill, 8 Oct. 2025
Immerse your berries in the water and gently agitate them.
—Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, 29 Sep. 2025
The nearness of bees, and of other things that agitate most people, calms me.
—Rivka Galchen, New Yorker, 21 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for agitate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for agitate
Verb
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Cocchi Vermouth di Torino 3 dashes Angostura Bitters For this cocktail and the additional recipes below, add ingredients to mixing glass, stir on ice for 15 seconds (small ice) to 30 seconds (bigger ice).—
Jeremy Repanich,
Robb Report,
25 Oct. 2025
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Cover and reduce heat to medium-low; simmer, covered, stirring occasionally, until flavors meld, about 15 minutes.—
Kimberly Holland,
Southern Living,
25 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Conventional cleanup techniques often worsen the problem by disturbing soil structures and consuming large amounts of energy.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
24 Oct. 2025
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There is trash and pollutants from the tourists and gravel has been mined from the area to make trekking routes for people, disturbing the places where females may have laid their eggs, researchers said.—
Irene Wright,
Miami Herald,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The earthquake shook at a depth of just 4 miles, with its epicenter roughly 9 miles west of Johannesburg.—
CA Earthquake Bot,
Sacbee.com,
26 Oct. 2025
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Nearly two years later, there’s still evidence at the crime scene that shook this small island country — ash on jutting rocks, melted scraps of plastic and fabric scattered in the verdant shrubbery where wild dogs stalk giant lizards.—
Brenna Ehrlich,
Rolling Stone,
26 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Despite the suspicions surrounding him, Drew became a fixture in the media, making television appearances to discuss Stacy’s disappearance.—
Alex Gurley,
PEOPLE,
28 Oct. 2025
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On the latest Sporticast episode, hosts Scott Soshnick and Eben Novy-Williams discuss some of the biggest sports business stories of the week, including the NBA betting scandal.—
Scott Soshnick,
Sportico.com,
28 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Not the kind of thrift store that’s actually thrifty, but the kind of thrift store that doesn’t have any price tags because the people who can afford to shop there don’t need to bother themselves with price tags.—
Lex Goldstein,
PEOPLE,
23 Oct. 2025
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Being a double Viking with Swedish and Norman blood on each side of my family, the cold never bothered me.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
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At a home in eastern Jamaica, which avoided the worst of the Melissa’s impacts, Edma felt the building's concrete walls vibrate as the storm barreled across the island.—
Thao Nguyen,
USA Today,
29 Oct. 2025
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Some doctors use numbing cream, a vibrating tool, or a dental block to help reduce in-the-moment pain.—
Kara Nesvig,
Allure,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
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If the White House must be remade, let there be a plan; let it be debated; let the financing be transparent and free of kickbacks and corruption.—
Adam Gopnik,
New Yorker,
25 Oct. 2025
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The Cleveland Browns drafted two rookie quarterbacks in the 2025 NFL draft, a move that was highly debated at the time and a storyline that hasn't gone away since.—
Rowan Fisher-Shotton,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
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While some critics are skeptical of the claims amid a lack of publicly available evidence – suggesting instead that they are meant to distract from growing public discontent and protests against Noboa’s government – the president insisted to CNN the threat was real.—
Max Saltman,
CNN Money,
24 Oct. 2025
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What Wednesday evening’s triumph also does is quieten the distracting outside noise that such a newsworthy club invariably attracts.—
Richard Sutcliffe,
New York Times,
23 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Agitate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/agitate. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
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