Synonyms of agitate

agitate 1 of 2

verb

ˈa-jə-ˌtāt 

1

as in to stir

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

• stir
• wash
• swirl
• shake
• whisk
• churn
• whip
• whirl
• beat
• wheel
• paddle
• reel

2

as in to disturb

to trouble the mind of; to make uneasy

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• disturb
• bother
• distract
• worry
• alarm
• concern
• unsettle
• anger
• annoy
• upset
• distress
• irritate
• perturb
• haunt
• derail
• confuse
• discompose
• discomfort
• unhinge
• plague
• disquiet
• ail
• undo
• rattle
• embarrass
• exercise
• dismay
• aggravate
• fuss
• exasperate
• flurry
• distemper
• harass
• rile
• freak (out)
• discourage
• vex
• irk
• frazzle
• alarum
• pester
• weird out
• bug
• chafe
• bedevil
• hagride
• pique
• put off
• fluster
• grate
• put out
• disconcert
• fret
• chivvy
• discomfit
• mortify
• confound
• discountenance
• gall
• get
• harry
• nettle
• demoralize
• chivy
• dispirit
• unnerve
• dishearten
• shake up
• faze
• abash
• peeve
• jar
• daunt
• nonplus

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• settle
• soothe
• compose
• calm
• quiet
• alleviate
• allay
• assuage
• tranquilize
• tranquillize
• pacify
• placate
• appease
• mollify
• conciliate
• propitiate

3

as in to shake

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

• shake
• vibrate
• jerk
• shudder
• tremble
• quiver
• convulse
• shiver
• sway
• jiggle
• bucket
• twitch
• wobble
• jolt
• wabble
• quake
• swing
• joggle
• judder
• jounce
• flicker
• throb
• wave
• rock
• chatter
• flutter
• oscillate
• thrill
• pulsate
• waver
• fluctuate
• undulate
• quaver
• palpitate
• pulse
• beat
• dodder
• pit-a-pat
• pitter-patter

4

as in to discuss

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

• discuss
• debate
• argue
• dispute
• canvass
• talk over
• raise
• review
• canvas
• moot
• bandy
• bat (around or back and forth)
• introduce
• consider
• propound
• talk (about)
• hash (over or out)
• stir up
• speak (about)
• weigh
• broach
• deliberate
• forge
• hammer out
• thrash (out)
• wrestle (with)
• talk out
• chew over

agitation

2 of 2

noun

ˌa-jə-ˈtā-shən 

1

as in frenzy

a state of wildly excited activity or emotion

knew immediately, from the horses' agitation, that something terrible was happening

Synonyms & Similar Words

• frenzy
• rampage
• rage
• hysteria
• delirium
• fury
• fever
• feverishness
• furore
• uproar
• furor
• confusion
• distraction
• flap
• deliriousness
• chaos
• turmoil
• commotion
• disorder
• disturbance
• stir
• havoc
• pandemonium
• tumult
• to-do
• clamor
• bedlam
• clatter
• bustle
• ruckus
• brouhaha
• tempest
• hubbub
• ruction
• hullabaloo
• rumpus
• storm
• fuss
• squall
• shindy
• hurly-burly
• hoo-hah
• stew
• bother
• hoo-ha

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• peace
• tranquillity
• calmness
• still
• calm
• quietude
• tranquility
• restfulness
• stillness
• quiet
• serenity
• placidity
• repose
• peacefulness
• sereneness
• tranquilness

2

as in anxiety

an uneasy state of mind usually over the possibility of an anticipated misfortune or trouble

experienced a great deal of agitation over whether she had an appropriate dress for her husband's inauguration

Synonyms & Similar Words

• anxiety
• fear
• concern
• worry
• unease
• concernment
• uneasiness
• nervousness
• disquietude
• fearfulness
• apprehension
• perturbation
• disquiet
• tension
• uncertainty
• solicitude
• apprehensiveness
• discomfort
• anxiousness
• panic
• desperation
• sweat
• stress
• care
• nervosity
• agita
• anguish
• disturbance
• distress
• dread
• doubt
• tremor
• consternation
• desperateness
• dismay
• strain
• angst
• alarm
• upset
• vexation
• discomposure
• jitters
• torment
• suspense
• distraction
• jumpiness
• hand-wringing
• edginess
• misgiving
• alarum
• compunction
• franticness
• presentiment
• incertitude
• qualm
• scruple
• foreboding
• cold feet

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• unconcern
• peace
• ease
• tranquillity
• content
• contentment
• calmness
• calm
• quietude
• tranquility
• quiet
• serenity
• easiness
• placidity
• relief
• peacefulness
• comfort
• placidness
• solace
• consolation
• sereneness
• tranquilness

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of agitate

Verb

The legislation released on Sunday tries to split the difference between Republicans agitating for deep cuts to Medicaid and those eager to protect their states from changes that could force them to shoulder much higher costs. —Margot Sanger-Katz, New York Times, 12 May 2025

As soon as Musk and Trump began bashing one another in earnest on Thursday, the GOP base immediately started agitating in three big directions. —Philip Elliott, Time, 6 June 2025

Noun

Carlson's agitation against American involvement in Iran has irked Trump, who lashed out at him on social media. —Zac Anderson, USA Today, 19 June 2025

Thanks to ongoing agitation and awareness-building — especially by activist Opal Lee, now 98 years old — President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act into law on June 17, 2021. —Harriette Cole, Mercury News, 19 June 2025