as in rebel
a person who stirs up public feelings especially of discontent
a political agitator who led an unsuccessful revolt against the government
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Recent Examples of agitator
Over a dozen agitators showed up to disrupt Sunday’s rally along Capitol Boulevard.
—
Angela Palermo, Idaho Statesman, 3 Nov. 2025
And while some have crossed the line from peaceful protesters to violent agitators, violence already has ample legal remedies under state and federal law.
—Jason M. Blazakis, Mercury News, 18 Oct. 2025
The cases range from political agitators seeking to intimidate immigrants to others using the guise of authority to allegedly kidnap, rob or assault victims.
—Alexandra Banner, CNN Money, 3 Oct. 2025
Country music’s premier agitator, Gavin Adcock, is also on the lineup.
—Joseph Hudak, Rolling Stone, 25 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for agitator
Angela Palermo, Idaho Statesman, 3 Nov. 2025
And while some have crossed the line from peaceful protesters to violent agitators, violence already has ample legal remedies under state and federal law.
—Jason M. Blazakis, Mercury News, 18 Oct. 2025
The cases range from political agitators seeking to intimidate immigrants to others using the guise of authority to allegedly kidnap, rob or assault victims.
—Alexandra Banner, CNN Money, 3 Oct. 2025
Country music’s premier agitator, Gavin Adcock, is also on the lineup.
—Joseph Hudak, Rolling Stone, 25 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for agitator
Recent Examples of Synonyms for agitator
Noun
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The London punk rebels seized the revolutionary spirit of 1977 with their raw manifesto The Clash, then refined their sound with the flawed Give ‘Em Enough Rope.—
Rob Sheffield,
Rolling Stone,
9 Nov. 2025
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Meanwhile, over in Britain, a vibrant antiwar movement brought on motion after motion in Parliament to cease fire and end all offensive operations against the rebels.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Just hearing ‘set piece’ sends a shiver down Liverpool supporters’ spines.—
Andy Jones,
New York Times,
9 Nov. 2025
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The new library would replace Truckee’s existing 50-year-old structure, which supporters say no longer meets the needs of a growing population.—
Daniel Hunt,
Sacbee.com,
8 Nov. 2025
Noun
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In fact, the term itself was an epithet throughout the founding era, a way to describe ignorant and easily deceived popular majorities, perpetually vulnerable to demagogues.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Oct. 2025
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That’s in no way a movement that could sweep the midterms and then be harnessed by a charismatic demagogue to remake an entire political party.—
Emily Zemler,
Rolling Stone,
21 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The 63-year-old former assemblyman isn’t campaigning as a culture warrior or firebrand.—
Nik Popli,
Time,
30 Oct. 2025
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Whereas Melvin was a milquetoast mainstay with two decades of experience as a major-league manager, Vitello arrives as a 47-year-old firebrand who neither played nor coached at any level of professional baseball.—
Evan Webeck,
Mercury News,
23 Oct. 2025
Noun
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In addition, famed promoter Don King signed her as his first female client in 1993.—
Caroline Blair,
PEOPLE,
8 Nov. 2025
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As a prize fight champion, Olympic gold medalist and now successful boxing promoter, Oscar De La Hoya should be the last person on earth who supports Jake Paul.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
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While proponents of wearable technology in prisons and jails have described it as potentially lifesaving, privacy rights groups and even law enforcement officials say the devices can raise ethical and legal concerns and urge agencies to establish strict rules on data use, retention and consent.—
Kelly Davis,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 Nov. 2025
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Newsom and other proponents said the retaliatory ballot measure was a way of fighting fire with fire.—
Mark Z. Barabak,
Mercury News,
8 Nov. 2025
Noun
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After becoming an Internet sensation (and an art-world provocateur), the toilet moved to England in 2019, where a trio of thieves snatched it from the birthplace of Winston Churchill in a crime straight out of the board game Clue.—
Nicole Hoey,
Robb Report,
4 Nov. 2025
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Curtis and Kirk were indeed to be found on opposite ends of virtually every hot-button cultural issue on which the latter made his name as a debater and provocateur.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
30 Oct. 2025
Noun
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That revelation prodded insurgents in British possessions from Ireland to Sierra Leone to take to the streets to assert their own ambitions for economic and political autonomy over the decades to come.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Nov. 2025
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Ilana presents herself as a stout-hearted reformer who’s being targeted by fascistic insurgents but is secretly evil enough to engineer an apocalypse.—
Matt Zoller Seitz,
Vulture,
31 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Agitator.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/agitator. Accessed 23 Nov. 2025.
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