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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of agitator
The footage has sparked concerns among some that external agitators are facilitating riots by equipping crowds for potential clashes with the police or National Guard.
—
Chloe Mayer, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 June 2025
It’s become even more ingrained this year with Florida’s aggressive style of play, led by agitators Matthew Tkachuk, Sam Bennett and Brad Marchand.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 9 June 2025
What’s important with Harvard, and with all schools, is that Presidents, Senators, experts and agitators more broadly should stay out of their admission decisions.
—John Tamny, Forbes.com, 8 June 2025
Standing water can encourage mildew or algae growth and invite mosquitoes, so consider buying some copper cleaning disks or a water agitator to keep the water clean for longer.
—Paige Bennett, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for agitator
Chloe Mayer, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 June 2025
It’s become even more ingrained this year with Florida’s aggressive style of play, led by agitators Matthew Tkachuk, Sam Bennett and Brad Marchand.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 9 June 2025
What’s important with Harvard, and with all schools, is that Presidents, Senators, experts and agitators more broadly should stay out of their admission decisions.
—John Tamny, Forbes.com, 8 June 2025
Standing water can encourage mildew or algae growth and invite mosquitoes, so consider buying some copper cleaning disks or a water agitator to keep the water clean for longer.
—Paige Bennett, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for agitator
Recent Examples of Synonyms for agitator
Noun
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Iran has also for years militarily and financially supported regional militia groups, including Hezbollah in Lebanon, Houthi rebels in Yemen and Hamas in Gaza, that have pressured or attacked Israel on multiple fronts.—
Kim Hjelmgaard,
USA Today,
14 June 2025
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Worried about Michilimackinac’s vulnerability to attacks by American rebels, the British relocated the fort to the high bluffs of Mackinac Island in 1780 and shortened its name.—
Sarah Kuta,
Smithsonian Magazine,
9 June 2025
Noun
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With many candidates vehemently opposed to Cuomo, their supporters' next-round votes can help Mamdani, who is endorsed by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a progressive star.—
Eduardo Cuevas,
USA Today,
20 June 2025
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That announcement came amid growing concerns from some of the president's most vocal supporters, including former Fox News host Tucker Carlson and former Trump senior adviser Steve Bannon.—
Leila Fadel,
NPR,
20 June 2025
Noun
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So members of Congress, and President Trump, too, have leverage that demagogues who preceded them could only dream of.—
Jelani Cobb,
New Yorker,
25 May 2025
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That nearly half of Romanians supported a populist demagogue who questions Romania's commitments to the European Union and NATO is a major crack in Europe's democratic wall.—
MSNBC Newsweek,
MSNBC Newsweek,
20 May 2025
Noun
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The United Kingdom sanctioned the two firebrands and imposed travel bans on them.—
Rachel Wolf,
FOXNews.com,
10 June 2025
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In a national poll in Good Housekeeping, Berg was ranked America’s second most admired woman, bested only by another liberal firebrand, Eleanor Roosevelt.—
Emily Nussbaum,
New Yorker,
9 June 2025
Noun
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The organization also brought in medical teams to train 48 people in the community as health workers and health promoters to ensure the availability of basic medical services.—
Diane Cole,
NPR,
19 June 2025
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In addition, Happel co-owns the South Broadway rock club HQ with former Live Nation and Soda Jerk Presents promoter Ore.—
John Wenzel,
Denver Post,
19 June 2025
Noun
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That was the compromise needed to pass the measure, bill proponents said.—
Denise Amos,
Mercury News,
18 June 2025
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The bipartisan bill, which former President Biden signed into law in January, repealed two tax rules that proponents say have unfairly reduced benefits for many Americans who also receive government pensions.—
Aris Folley,
The Hill,
18 June 2025
Noun
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Shocks to your sense of emotional security awaken your inner provocateur as Mars and Uranus clash!—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
15 June 2025
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But most Republicans remained silent, or accused Padilla of being a provocateur.—
James Rainey,
Los Angeles Times,
13 June 2025
Noun
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Widely viewed as the most powerful of a broad array of insurgent groups active in northern Syria, HTS withstood regular attacks by the Syrian military, ultimately turning the tide last December.—
Tom O'Connor,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 May 2025
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In recent years, the PKK has been limited to isolated attacks inside Turkey as the Turkish military, backed by armed drones, has pushed its insurgents increasingly across the mountainous border into Iraq.—
Suzan Fraser,
Los Angeles Times,
12 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Agitator.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/agitator. Accessed 28 Jun. 2025.
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