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
Leading Arab agitators, Husseini among them, fomented anti-Jewish violence, hoping to sway British opinion away from creating a Jewish state.
—
Sean Durns, The Washington Examiner, 12 Sep. 2025
Some agitators—likely external infiltrators—pushed the protesters forward, tearing down barricades as chants intensified.
—Sonal Nain, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Sep. 2025
Charlie Kirk, a far-right agitator and political activist, was shot and killed on Wednesday according to video of the incident and confirmation by Andrew Kolvet, Kirk’s spokesman.
—Mikelle Street, Them., 10 Sep. 2025
That might be an agitator for some players.
—Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 22 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for agitator
Sean Durns, The Washington Examiner, 12 Sep. 2025
Some agitators—likely external infiltrators—pushed the protesters forward, tearing down barricades as chants intensified.
—Sonal Nain, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Sep. 2025
Charlie Kirk, a far-right agitator and political activist, was shot and killed on Wednesday according to video of the incident and confirmation by Andrew Kolvet, Kirk’s spokesman.
—Mikelle Street, Them., 10 Sep. 2025
That might be an agitator for some players.
—Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 22 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for agitator
Recent Examples of Synonyms for agitator
Noun
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In Syria, rebels overthrew Assad last year, Israeli strikes killed Hezbollah and Hamas’ top leaders, while Iraqi militant groups faded into the background.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
12 Oct. 2025
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In Valentin's case, his love for Molina, and in Cassian's, his love for adoptive mother, Maarva (Fiona Shaw), girlfriend Bix (Adria Arjona), and the other rebels with whom he's aligned himself.—
Maureen Lee Lenker,
Entertainment Weekly,
11 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Miami philanthropists Trish and Dan Bell, who have given millions to different organizations across South Florida, are longtime supporters of the Foundation and are members of the Golden Angel Society, the Foundation’s premier giving group.—
Michelle Marchante,
Miami Herald,
12 Oct. 2025
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The statue is still standing years later amid a pushback from supporters, who see Columbus as a symbol of Italian American pride.—
Eva Roytburg,
Fortune,
11 Oct. 2025
Noun
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America seems unlikely to be made great again by the demagogues of white nationalism, who cannot help but channel fury over irreversible decline at those who have been working hard, through either literal or spiritual immigration, to become American.—
Pankaj Mishra,
Harpers Magazine,
19 Sep. 2025
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Our shrinking attention span has left us vulnerable to demagogues and misinformation from every direction.—
Doug McIntyre,
Oc Register,
31 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Like Bevan, Sheen is a Welsh firebrand unafraid to wear his leftist politics.—
Alexander Smith,
NBC news,
5 Oct. 2025
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Labour has slumped to around 20% in recent polls, while Reform UK – the upstart hard-right party led by firebrand Nigel Farage – has surged to around 35%, the same share that Labour won last year.—
Christian Edwards,
CNN Money,
30 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Then, that night, Turki Al-Sheikh, a Saudi Arabian government official and sports promoter, posted on social-media platform X that United were close to being sold.—
Dan Sheldon,
New York Times,
11 Oct. 2025
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Swift said of the music mogul and promoter who helps the NFL select the Super Bowl act in recent seasons.—
Dominick Mastrangelo,
The Hill,
7 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Massive Attack have also joined a separate but parallel drive to pull music from Spotify altogether; proponents of that movement primarily cite founder Daniel Ek’s investment in weapons contractor Helsing, which is not linked to Israel.—
Jazz Monroe,
Pitchfork,
6 Oct. 2025
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With Newsom’s signature now on AB 1340, drivers can collectively bargain and unionize, including negotiating contracts, which would set industry-wide standards, according to proponents like bill sponsors Assemblymembers Marc Berman, D-Menlo Park, and Buffy Wicks, D-Oakland.—
David Lightman,
Sacbee.com,
6 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The Supreme Court won’t help conservative provocateur Laura Loomer take on social media companies and their advertisers who have blocked her posts.—
Maureen Groppe,
USA Today,
6 Oct. 2025
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The most sensational collision of the FCC, the radio networks, and notions of the public interest was inspired not by Orson Welles but by another multihyphenate auteur, the screen goddess and provocateur Mae West.—
Thomas Doherty,
HollywoodReporter,
30 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Like the Industrial Revolution-era insurgents, the new Luddites are not anti-technology but anti-exploitation, the tech journalist Brian Merchant tells me.—
Allison Morrow,
CNN Money,
8 Oct. 2025
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After two cycles in which pro-Israel groups spent heavily against left-wing candidates, insurgent Democrats believe the mood has changed.—
David Weigel,
semafor.com,
7 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Agitator.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/agitator. Accessed 14 Oct. 2025.
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