as in rebel
a person who stirs up public feelings especially of discontent
a political agitator who led an unsuccessful revolt against the government
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Recent Examples of agitator
Reinstall the screen and agitator, securing the cap.
—
Louise Parks, Martha Stewart, 4 Feb. 2026
My comment addressed agitators approaching law enforcement with a gun and refusing to disarm.
—Bill Hutchinson, ABC News, 28 Jan. 2026
Federal immigration officers have been collecting personal information about protesters and agitators in Minneapolis, sources told CNN – and had documented details about Alex Pretti before he was shot to death on Saturday.
—Jeff Winter, CNN Money, 27 Jan. 2026
The founder of the league, Windsor’s Tyler Ruff, grad student and the Huskies’ head student manager, is the instigator, agitator and original commissioner.
—Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 23 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for agitator
Louise Parks, Martha Stewart, 4 Feb. 2026
My comment addressed agitators approaching law enforcement with a gun and refusing to disarm.
—Bill Hutchinson, ABC News, 28 Jan. 2026
Federal immigration officers have been collecting personal information about protesters and agitators in Minneapolis, sources told CNN – and had documented details about Alex Pretti before he was shot to death on Saturday.
—Jeff Winter, CNN Money, 27 Jan. 2026
The founder of the league, Windsor’s Tyler Ruff, grad student and the Huskies’ head student manager, is the instigator, agitator and original commissioner.
—Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 23 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for agitator
Recent Examples of Synonyms for agitator
Noun
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The rebel militias under Ahmed al-Sharaa’s command had been lobbying for Turkey’s permission to launch a military operation, and finally, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan gave it to them.—
Robert F. Worth,
The Atlantic,
6 Feb. 2026
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Violette briefly resurfaced in 2018 with a small solo show at Gladstone’s Upper East Side town house—an improbably tasteful site for an erstwhile rebel.—
Rachel Wetzler,
Artforum,
1 Feb. 2026
Noun
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To his excited supporters, Platner might just be the Democrats’ perfect populist insurgent for Maine.—
Mark Leibovich,
The Atlantic,
11 Feb. 2026
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Unless public land supporters in office act to clarify corner crossing in law, access will continue to shrink.—
Karlee Provenza,
Denver Post,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
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From ancient sources philosophers and poets, democrats and demagogues, found justification for everything from anarchy to fascism, and there are reasons for both justifications.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Feb. 2026
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Without a robust legitimacy narrative, demagogues fill the vacuum.—
Annelise Riles,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The political firebrand’s career, spanning 46 years in City Hall, came to an end last month when newcomer Rolando Escalona won the District 3 seat that Carollo and his younger brother Frank had occupied since 2009.—
Tess Riski
January 30,
Miami Herald,
30 Jan. 2026
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In the 1980s, right-wing firebrands such as Jerry Falwell and Anita Bryant claimed that the AIDS epidemic was a plague sent by God to punish gay people.—
Hillary Rodham Clinton,
The Atlantic,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
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One question has bothered Martin Ludlow in his decades as a concert and event promoter in Los Angeles.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Feb. 2026
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Independent producers and promoters rent its venues for their performances and events.—
E. Andrew Taylor,
The Conversation,
4 Feb. 2026
Noun
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However, Joyner isn't a proponent of doing so, if possible.—
Sarah Lyon,
Southern Living,
8 Feb. 2026
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Count Doyle as a proponent of the Rockies’ outfield options as Colorado looks for ways to show progress following a disastrous 119-loss season in 2025.—
Kyle Newman,
Denver Post,
7 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The official channels to Censori have run through her husband’s company Yeezy, where Censori leads the architecture department, and through Milo Yiannopoulos, a far-right provocateur who had worked on Ye’s 2024 presidential campaign.—
Anna Peele,
Vanity Fair,
6 Feb. 2026
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There were right-wing provocateurs coming to town.—
Anne Applebaum,
The Atlantic,
6 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Progressive senators are wading into Democratic primaries across the country, at times breaking from their leaders to back more left-leaning or insurgent candidates — with the notable exception of Texas.—
Burgess Everett,
semafor.com,
10 Feb. 2026
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Those funds often backed far-right Republican insurgents.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
10 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Agitator.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/agitator. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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