agitator

noun

ag·​i·​ta·​tor ˈa-jə-ˌtā-tər 

: one that agitates: such as

a

: one who stirs up public feeling on controversial issues

political agitators

b

: a device or an apparatus for stirring or shaking

Synonyms of agitator

• rebel
• supporter
• demagogue
• firebrand
• promoter
• proponent
• provocateur
• insurgent
• reformer
• demonstrator
• advocate
• protester
• instigator
• exciter
• apostle
• rabble-rouser
• inciter
• fomenter

Examples of agitator in a Sentence

The police arrested several anti-government agitators.

a political agitator who led an unsuccessful revolt against the government

Recent Examples on the Web

Attendees were forced to navigate a mob of hostile agitators in order to enter and exit the event, while police held back a screaming and sometimes violent mob. —Stephen Sorace , Peter D'abrosca, FOXNews.com, 12 Nov. 2025

Someone who is unable to work in mainstream punditry because his face no longer fits, but is determined to raise standards among those who do as an outside agitator. —Greg O'Keeffe, New York Times, 9 Nov. 2025

This is a frequent complaint with today's washers that use less water than older, top-load washers with center agitators. —Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 8 Nov. 2025

As Border patrol arrested one individual, who actively resisted arrest, pepper spray was deployed spray to deter the agitator and disperse the crowd. —NPR, 3 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

agitate + -or entry 1

First Known Use

1663, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for agitator

• activator
• actuator
• alligator
• allocator
• alternator
• animator
• annotator
• applicator
• arbitrator
• aspirator
• aviator
• calculator

Kids Definition

agitator

noun

ag·​i·​ta·​tor ˈaj-ə-ˌtāt-ər 

1

: a person who stirs up public feeling

2

: a device for stirring or shaking