AGITATING Synonyms: 196 Similar and Opposite Words

agitating 1 of 2

adjective

as in uneasy

marked by or causing agitation or uncomfortable feelings no more agitating waits to find out sports scores—get them instantly online!

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

agitating

2 of 2

verb

present participle of agitate

as in stirring

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

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as in bothering

to trouble the mind of; to make uneasy there's no need to agitate the patient about little things

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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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

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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

Verb

Where some of her peers were agitating for new ideological thinking inside the Party, Stevens was something closer to an earnest moderate. — Ruby Cramer, New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2026 But hell hath no fury like a Latino voter scorned and all this intimidation, in addition to a lack of follow-through on promises by Republican lawmakers since 2024, might have a boomerang effect by agitating Latinos into action. — Carlos De Loera, Los Angeles Times, 30 Oct. 2026 But while the calls to resign or step aside have waned, many are still agitating for change. — ABC News, 12 Oct. 2026 By mid-morning, bees continued to fly around as city workers did their best to cut the tree without getting stung or agitating the hives any further. — Ross Guidotti, CBS News, 8 Sep. 2026 After many decades of organizing, speaking, writing, agitating — and weathering the constant controversy that courted — Steinem kept going. — Adam Carlson, PEOPLE, 3 Sep. 2026 Continue to cook, agitating eggs and occasionally shaking pan and running spatula underneath to ensure eggs aren’t sticking, until surface of eggs looks somewhat set but still slightly shiny, about 30 seconds more. — Rebecca Firkser, Bon Appetit Magazine, 3 Sep. 2026 One of the loudest voices in the cattle world agitating against the border reopening is Bill Bullard, the CEO of R-CALF, a national association of independent cattle and sheep farmers. — Max Saltman, CNN Money, 22 Aug. 2026 Eritreans began agitating for independence in the 1960s, which only happened after decades of war and a regime change in Ethiopia. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 14 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for agitating

Adjective

That uneasy feeling settles over the rest of Infinite Now like suffocating humidity.

— Andrew Ryce, Pitchfork, 3 Nov. 2026
Some support industrial policy but are uneasy about framing it principally around competition with China.

— THOMAS WRIGHT, Foreign Affairs, 3 Nov. 2026

Definition of uneasy

Verb

Add the cardamom and continue to simmer, stirring occasionally, until the rhubarb is completely broken down and the jam has thickened, about 25 minutes.

— ABC News, ABC News, 3 Nov. 2026
Gradually pour in 3½ cups buttermilk, then melted butter, stirring constantly until combined.

— Inés Anguiano, Bon Appetit Magazine, 2 Nov. 2026

Definition of stirring

Verb

His work is autobiographical and based on whatever has been bothering him that year.

— Anthony Solorzano, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026
For example, companies that benefit from customers not bothering to cancel subscriptions, compare prices, or search for better deals have taken a beating in recent weeks.

— Alexa LoMonaco, CNBC, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of bothering

Verb

Our little group is still shaking off our early morning bleariness while scattering over the rocks, bending over to peer closely into the tide pools.

— Joseph Ogilvy, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Oct. 2026
Also available are spicy chicken breast sautéed with lemongrass, Asian basil and peanuts ($32); shaking beef ($45), made with diced hanger steak, scallion and chili, and baked Chilean sea bass ($48) with tamarind and soy marinade.

— Ryma Chikhoune, Footwear News, 28 Oct. 2026

Definition of shaking

Verb

And on an earnings call for his rocket company SpaceX, Musk hinted at the possibility of a merger between the two companies, saying that special committees at each were discussing it.

— Willa Rubin, NPR, 29 Oct. 2026
The hosts spend extra time discussing the IPL’s revenue multiples.

— Eben Novy-Williams, Sportico.com, 29 Oct. 2026

Definition of discussing

Adjective

Gainey could not be reached for comment, but while the current O'Connor administration has been cooperating with investigators, Chief of Staff Dann Gilman said these revelations are disturbing.

— Andy Sheehan, CBS News, 4 Nov. 2026
Even at their most disturbing, scenes describing carnage tend to be colorful and amusing.

— Matthew Jacobs, Vulture, 30 Oct. 2026