as in uneasy
marked by or causing agitation or uncomfortable feelings
no more agitating waits to find out sports scores—get them instantly online!
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
2
as in bothering
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 shaking
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 discussing
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of agitating
Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 22 Oct. 2025
What is the best way to investigate a spirit without agitating it?
—Maggie Menderski, Louisville Courier Journal, 10 Oct. 2025
Kiefer Sherwood Sherwood will open the season agitating the opposition on the forecheck and threatening as an against-the-grain attacking option in the bottom six.
—Thomas Drance, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
Meanwhile, those on the right are agitating to declare left wing activists as terrorists.
—Geoff Brumfiel, NPR, 20 Sep. 2025
If the leaves are especially dirty, soak in cold water, gently agitating them to loosen dirt and grit.
—Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 7 Sep. 2025
But some hard-line conservatives, nervous about the prospect of being jammed with a massive, end-of-year omnibus and hoping to avoid negotiating with Democrats on spending increases, have been agitating for another full-year continuing resolution (CR).
—Aris Folley, The Hill, 3 Sep. 2025
The moon’s agitating clash with Chiron intensifies anxiety.
—Usa Today, USA Today, 7 Aug. 2025
Peter died in 2019, but Jane is still acting and agitating, starring on Netflix's Grace and Frankie for seven seasons, as well in the Book Club films (2018, 2023) and 80 for Brady (2023).
—James Mercadante, EW.com, 21 Mar. 2025
Verb
Marchand built his reputation as an agitating, scrappy forward who knows how to get under the opponent’s skin while also producing on the scoresheet and was named captain ahead of the 2023-24 season, succeeding Patrice Bergeron for the role.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 22 Oct. 2025
What is the best way to investigate a spirit without agitating it?
—Maggie Menderski, Louisville Courier Journal, 10 Oct. 2025
Kiefer Sherwood Sherwood will open the season agitating the opposition on the forecheck and threatening as an against-the-grain attacking option in the bottom six.
—Thomas Drance, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
Meanwhile, those on the right are agitating to declare left wing activists as terrorists.
—Geoff Brumfiel, NPR, 20 Sep. 2025
If the leaves are especially dirty, soak in cold water, gently agitating them to loosen dirt and grit.
—Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 7 Sep. 2025
But some hard-line conservatives, nervous about the prospect of being jammed with a massive, end-of-year omnibus and hoping to avoid negotiating with Democrats on spending increases, have been agitating for another full-year continuing resolution (CR).
—Aris Folley, The Hill, 3 Sep. 2025
The moon’s agitating clash with Chiron intensifies anxiety.
—Usa Today, USA Today, 7 Aug. 2025
Peter died in 2019, but Jane is still acting and agitating, starring on Netflix's Grace and Frankie for seven seasons, as well in the Book Club films (2018, 2023) and 80 for Brady (2023).
—James Mercadante, EW.com, 21 Mar. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for agitating
Adjective
-
Across its run, The Witcher has traced the uneasy bond between Geralt of Rivia (Liam Hemsworth), the monster hunter bound by destiny; Ciri (Freya Allan), the princess whose power could save or destroy worlds; and Yennefer (Anya Chalotra), the sorceress torn between ambition and love.—
JP Mangalindan,
Time,
30 Oct. 2025
-
In the Odyssey, Homer depicts Helen and Menelaus’s reunion as uneasy and sometimes tearful, after years of estrangement.—
Elizabeth D. Samet,
Foreign Affairs,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Without wiping Dutch oven clean, add onions; cook over medium-high, stirring often, until softened and beginning to brown, 6 to 8 minutes.—
Jasmine Smith,
Southern Living,
30 Oct. 2025
-
Cook the beef until brown, stirring occasionally to break up the meat into pistachio-sized bites.—
Karla Walsh,
Better Homes & Gardens,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
If something’s bothering you, say so.—
James Parker,
The Atlantic,
28 Oct. 2025
-
Saft, not bothering to remove his sneakers, leaped onto a chair to place an ornate gold mirror over the mantelpiece.—
Alexandra Schwartz,
New Yorker,
20 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Start the process by vigorously shaking or hanging then pounding the rug to remove loose dirt, crumbs, and other particles, then vacuum it thoroughly on both sides, using a canister vacuum with the hose or a high pile setting—and no beater bar!—
Jennifer Beck Goldblatt,
Architectural Digest,
31 Oct. 2025
-
Part of it was that Mark Kerr was sitting right beside him, shaking through the entire film—for many reasons.—
Clayton Davis,
Variety,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
After being introduced to Picasso, Stein quickly developed a close relationship with him, discussing his work in his cluttered studio, giving him loans, and purchasing his paintings.—
Daphne Merkin,
The Atlantic,
31 Oct. 2025
-
So, is the idea to replicate the British pub experience of people discussing hot topics informally?—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
31 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
With 31 percent of adults and 80 percent of adolescents not meeting recommended levels of physical activity, researchers have unveiled a disturbing glimpse of what the long-term impacts on our health and appearance could look like.—
Hannah Millington,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Oct. 2025
-
The film follows his lead, constructing a near-relentless study of misery that culminates in a disturbing finale.—
Shirley Li,
The Atlantic,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Some have likened the controversy surrounding Savin's display of old-time mobsters to the debate swirling around old statues of Confederate generals.—
Tovia Smith,
NPR,
24 Oct. 2025
-
There's plenty of headlines swirling before Game 1 begins Friday at Rogers Centre.—
Tim Crowley,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Karbler notes that Bigelow resisted that depiction for fear of distracting from the emotional moment.—
Jake Kring-Schreifels,
Time,
27 Oct. 2025
-
Surprisingly, the injury helped him in this regard by distracting him from overanalyzing his game.—
Devlina Sarkar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Agitating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/agitating. Accessed 6 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share