Synonyms of agitates

agitates

verb

present tense third-person singular of agitate

1

as in stirs

to cause (as a liquid) to move about in a circle especially repeatedly

this room could use a ceiling fan to agitate the stuffy air a bit

Synonyms & Similar Words

• stirs
• swirls
• washes
• churns
• whirls
• shakes
• whisks
• whips
• beats
• wheels
• reels
• paddles

2

as in disturbs

to trouble the mind of; to make uneasy

there's no need to agitate the patient about little things

Synonyms & Similar Words

• disturbs
• bothers
• distracts
• worries
• concerns
• alarms
• unsettles
• angers
• annoys
• upsets
• irritates
• distresses
• perturbs
• haunts
• disquiets
• dismays
• plagues
• confuses
• unhinges
• derails
• undoes
• ails
• rattles
• embarrasses
• fusses
• aggravates
• frazzles
• exasperates
• distempers
• discomposes
• discomforts
• exercises
• freaks (out)
• harasses
• riles
• irks
• flurries
• vexes
• discourages
• pesters
• chafes
• weirds out
• bugs
• piques
• flusters
• harries
• bedevils
• disconcerts
• grates
• mortifies
• hagrides
• confounds
• gets
• discomfits
• peeves
• unnerves
• frets
• nettles
• demoralizes
• galls
• disheartens
• puts off
• puts out
• fazes
• daunts
• discountenances
• shakes up
• chivies
• abashes
• jars
• dispirits
• nonpluses

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• calms
• soothes
• settles
• quiets
• composes
• alleviates
• allays
• assuages
• tranquilizes
• appeases
• pacifies
• placates
• mollifies
• conciliates
• propitiates

3

as in shakes

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

• shakes
• vibrates
• shudders
• jerks
• trembles
• quivers
• convulses
• shivers
• sways
• wobbles
• jiggles
• jolts
• twitches
• joggles
• judders
• buckets
• quakes
• jounces
• throbs
• flickers
• swings
• rocks
• waves
• flutters
• chatters
• oscillates
• pulsates
• thrills
• wavers
• fluctuates
• undulates
• quavers
• palpitates
• pulses
• dodders
• pitter-patters
• beats
• pit-a-pats

4

as in discusses

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

• discusses
• debates
• argues
• disputes
• raises
• reviews
• talks over
• moots
• considers
• canvasses
• hashes (over or out)
• bandies
• bats (around or back and forth)
• propounds
• introduces
• weighs
• speaks (about)
• deliberates
• talks (about)
• broaches
• stirs up
• forges
• hammers out
• talks out
• wrestles (with)
• thrashes (out)
• chews over

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of agitates

The machine dryer agitates the clothing and prevents fibers from stiffening during drying, which is why clothing comes out feeling soft. — Emily Benda Gaylord, The Spruce, 23 Feb. 2026

This agitates me and my lead foot. — Matt Fuchs, Time, 20 Jan. 2026

As the sun agitates the moon, both options appeal. — Usa Today, USA Today, 5 Jan. 2026

To admit what hurts, agitates, and offends us in fact illuminates what is complicated and good in us. — Literary Hub, 10 Dec. 2025

Stacey Rusch, however, is a conflict that Gizelle is still very much negotiating in the present day, and the Detroit Diva’s aloof and irreverent nature agitates all of Gizelle’s worst traits. — Shamira Ibrahim, Vulture, 8 Dec. 2025

The explainer agitates the problem and leads to your solution. — Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2025

There’s even a room equipped with soft surfaces for when clients inadvertently take a drug that agitates them. — Katy Golvala, Hartford Courant, 4 Aug. 2025