1
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of agitates
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for agitates
Verb
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Michaelson asked Fisher about a particular conversation between the two former Lakers that still stirs strong emotions for the 18-year NBA veteran.—
Monica Haider,
CNN Money,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Paul Mescal stirs as the Bard, complete with an earring, but his co-star Buckley breathes heart-wrenching life into Hamnet.—
Savannah Salazar,
Vulture,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Though the time change allows for more daylight in the spring and summer evenings, many have argued the change disturbs the body's circadian rhythms and has significant health drawbacks.—
Maia Pandey,
jsonline.com,
28 Jan. 2026
-
For instance, the downward airflow from the drone propellers disturbs the dust, increasing contamination risks, and the team had to develop additional safety measures to mitigate them.—
Ameya Paleja,
Interesting Engineering,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
As a rule of thumb, protein shakes should only be used to fill gaps.—
Lindsey DeSoto,
Health,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Their barking shakes the windows.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
In the first clip, Los Angeles Dodgers co-owner Todd Boehly discusses the accusations, made by many MLB fans, that his team’s spending has made the sport less competitive, less fun and less fair.—
Scott Soshnick,
Sportico.com,
27 Jan. 2026
-
The three year lifespan of the Chief AI Officer discusses the stabilize, focus, embed, and dissolve phases.—
Sandy Carter,
Forbes.com,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
People don’t think this bothers me.—
Safiyah Riddle,
Fortune,
26 Jan. 2026
-
At one point, Bryan Freedman, an attorney for Baldoni and the Wayfarer Studios defendants, asked Lively if negative publicity bothers her.—
Benjamin VanHoose,
PEOPLE,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The former allows the player to set beats-per-minute, beats per bar, select different rhythms and whether a sound beeps and/or the device vibrates to the beat.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
9 Jan. 2026
-
The red vibrates off the page in such a pleasing way.—
Emily Temple,
Literary Hub,
11 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
In the recording, the council debates whether there would be any benefits since Prohaska had already resigned.—
Tiney Ricciardi,
Denver Post,
26 Jan. 2026
-
The crypto firm’s move comes as California debates a ballot measure that would tax billionaires 5% on their total wealth for healthcare funding.—
Queenie Wong,
Los Angeles Times,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Paying too much attention to AI benchmarks distracts from the tech's real value — when it is integrated into existing gaming or entertainment ecosystems such as Tencent's, Ivan Su, senior equity analyst at Morningstar, said in a note.—
Evelyn Cheng,
CNBC,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Start by clearing what distracts you.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
28 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Agitates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/agitates. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
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