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