agitate 1 of 2

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

Relevance
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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

agitation

2 of 2

noun

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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 agitate
Verb
Skilled content creators know that their content has to do more than agitate problems and provide solutions. Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 11 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
Noun
This thermal agitation causes electrons to lose energy as heat rather than contributing to the electrical current, leading to a noticeable drop in voltage and overall efficiency. Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 7 Sep. 2025 Severe disease, however, often presents within two weeks of illness, causing confusion, agitation and hallucinations, the above source states. Shiv Sudhakar, FOXNews.com, 5 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for agitate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for agitate
Verb
  • Add corn and 3/4 teaspoon of the salt; cook, stirring often, until tender, about 4 minutes.
    Elizabeth Mervosh, Southern Living, 5 Oct. 2025
  • Cook over medium heat until onion is tender and sausage begins to brown, stirring occasionally, about 8 minutes.
    Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • When a school principal (Ashley Padilla) and a teacher (Mikey Day) reprimand a student (Hernandez) for disturbing drawings of him attacking the principal, the student’s father (Bad Bunny) comes in, and Padilla’s principal, immediately smitten, changes course to hitting on the student’s father.
    Rima Parikh, Vulture, 5 Oct. 2025
  • The deaths have disturbed the Cranford community.
    Zoe Sottile, CNN Money, 4 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Weak to light shaking was recorded, and people in several cities - such as Big Bear City, Big Bear Lake and Angelus Oaks - reported experiencing the tremor, according to the USGS DYFI report.
    CA Earthquake Bot, Sacbee.com, 6 Oct. 2025
  • The region has been shaken Other nations in the region have been affected by the tumult.
    Susan Page, USA Today, 5 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The design software vendor's stocks climbed 7% after Altman discussed Figma's integration into ChatGPT, and showed how third-party applications could plug in with OpenAI's Apps software development framework.
    Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 7 Oct. 2025
  • That particular topic is probably the most controversial topic in the world, but there's still a lot of editorial safeguards in place where people can discuss things.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 7 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Wall Street holds near record highs in a government-data blackout , with enough rotational energy toward left-behind groups, refreshed confidence in the AI spending frenzy, certainty of a Fed rate cut this month and speculative aggression in lower-quality longshots to keep the indexes aloft.
    Michael Santoli, CNBC, 3 Oct. 2025
  • The Red Sox have room to pay him now that Rafael Devers' contract is off the books, but Bregman could cause a frenzy in free agency.
    Aaliyan Mohammed, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Other benefits of acupuncture were pain intensity reduction, an improvement of physical functions, and fewer anxiety symptoms.
    Ashley J. DiMella, FOXNews.com, 4 Oct. 2025
  • The stress among the friend group about their costume theme is giving me more anxiety than a haunted hayride.
    Melissa Willets, Parents, 4 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Reviewing pages have been thinned by the forces of history and technology; few Pynchon skeptics anymore bother to take the time to read the novels and register their objections.
    Book Marks October 2, Literary Hub, 2 Oct. 2025
  • But Bob Say, owner of Los Angeles’ Freakbeat Records, for one, isn’t all that bothered.
    Roy Trakin, Rolling Stone, 1 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Designer Joe Nahem of the esteemed firm Fox-Nahem was then brought in to merge the two spaces into one wildly creative space that vibrates with color, pattern, and texture.
    Mark David, Robb Report, 1 Oct. 2025
  • Each of the three biographies—any good biography—vibrates with the intensity of its author’s possession by their subject and the thrill of exhumation, if only metaphoric.
    Megan Marshall September 25, Literary Hub, 25 Sep. 2025

Cite this Entry

“Agitate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/agitate. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.

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