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
Of all the larger-than-life agitators and provocateurs to come out of Flint, Michigan, in the past few years, he’s become one of the best rappers of the bunch.
—
Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 6 June 2025
Police officials said force was used only after a group of agitators began pelting officers with bottles, fireworks and other objects.
—Karim Doumar, Los Angeles Times, 23 June 2025
The Austin Police Department (APD) has released mugshots of eight people who were arrested after anti-Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agitators turned violent this week.
—Audrey Conklin, FOXNews.com, 13 June 2025
Chicago and the state must be prepared to crack down on outside agitators who come to the city to incite violence, including applying federal charges and seeking damages from individuals and organizations responsible for violence.
—Paul Vallas, Chicago Tribune, 11 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for agitator
Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 6 June 2025
Police officials said force was used only after a group of agitators began pelting officers with bottles, fireworks and other objects.
—Karim Doumar, Los Angeles Times, 23 June 2025
The Austin Police Department (APD) has released mugshots of eight people who were arrested after anti-Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agitators turned violent this week.
—Audrey Conklin, FOXNews.com, 13 June 2025
Chicago and the state must be prepared to crack down on outside agitators who come to the city to incite violence, including applying federal charges and seeking damages from individuals and organizations responsible for violence.
—Paul Vallas, Chicago Tribune, 11 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for agitator
Recent Examples of Synonyms for agitator
Noun
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The attackers were members of the Islamist Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a sanctioned rebel group with roots in Uganda.—
Paul Tilsley,
FOXNews.com,
31 July 2025
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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth divulged classified information in March from battlefield commanders about the U.S. attack on Houthi rebels in a chat on the commercial messaging app Signal, according to a U.S. official.—
Tom Vanden Brook,
USA Today,
24 July 2025
Noun
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The decision sparked a firestorm on social media — where much of the debate around these issues is taking place — and Jackson-Smith was the target of abusive and threatening comments from both pro-Israel and pro-Palestine supporters.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
7 Aug. 2025
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The former City Council president spent primary day visiting various polling sites, capping off the night with her team and supporters at The Enclave on Detroit's northwest side to celebrate her campaign.—
Dana Afana,
Freep.com,
7 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Today a new generation of demagogues claim to be fighting to liberate aggrieved majorities from outsiders’ control.—
Derek R. Peterson,
The Conversation,
18 July 2025
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But today’s leaders, willfully do the biddings of billionaires and backed by demagogues in exchange for power and privilege, are ignoring that call.—
Jared Nordlund,
The Orlando Sentinel,
12 July 2025
Noun
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Still, Paxton is more aligned with the MAGA firebrand base, and a network of pro-Trump influencers has been hammering Cornyn online for months.—
Ramsey Touchberry,
The Washington Examiner,
2 Aug. 2025
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This time around his firebrand style is something GOP strategists are confident can keep Democrats on defense in a blue state.—
Phillip M. Bailey,
USA Today,
27 July 2025
Noun
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Both Scott and concert promoter Live Nation were investigated in the wake of the tragedy but were cleared by a Texas grand jury in 2023.—
Kate Perez,
Chicago Tribune,
1 Aug. 2025
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Opened in 2019 by former nightclub promoter Josh Heuser, the bar makes imaginative use of the tunnels once used as storage for saloons and breweries before the days of refrigeration.—
USA Today,
USA Today,
30 July 2025
Noun
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Unfortunately for proponents of AB 699, Governor Gavin Newsom (D) vetoed a similar proposal six years ago.—
Patrick Gleason,
Forbes.com,
1 Aug. 2025
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Volz has been a major proponent of continuing to rely mainly on NOAA operated satellites, while entering into data purchase agreements with private companies as well.—
Andrew Freedman,
CNN Money,
25 July 2025
Noun
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The Federal Communications Commission also proposed $5.1 million in fines against Wohl and Burkman, who gained prominence as conservative provocateurs in the years surrounding the 2020 election.—
Arpan Lobo,
Freep.com,
2 Aug. 2025
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The process leading to the deal’s approval, which was linked to two senior DOJ officials losing their jobs, briefly drew the ire of Laura Loomer, the right-wing online provocateur.—
Jim Edwards,
Fortune,
1 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Lahav emphasized that stringent measures would need to be taken in Israel's outreach to Iranian insurgent groups to avoid creating outcomes with the potential to be just as unfavorable, or even more unfavorable, to national and regional security.—
Tom O'Connor,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 July 2025
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Saturday’s bracket gets going with one-time tourney staple UCLA and insurgent Murray State.—
Steven Louis Goldstein,
New York Times,
13 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Agitator.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/agitator. Accessed 15 Aug. 2025.
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