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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of agitator
They could be trapped in the door’s rubber seal or under the agitator, for example.
—
The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Feb. 2026
Cabrera is accused of having a cockfighting training ring, a dead rooster in a cage, a rooster agitator (a device used to incite fighting), a gun, rooster vitamins, syringes and medication on his property.
—Sofia Saric, Miami Herald, 24 Feb. 2026
In a top-load washer, these might have gotten sucked into the agitator or spun out into the front panel of the machine.
—Ashley Chalmers, The Spruce, 20 Feb. 2026
His record as an effective agitator for Black advancement positioned him as a go-to adviser for Chicago politicians who sought his endorsement.
—Alice Yin, Chicago Tribune, 17 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for agitator
The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Feb. 2026
Cabrera is accused of having a cockfighting training ring, a dead rooster in a cage, a rooster agitator (a device used to incite fighting), a gun, rooster vitamins, syringes and medication on his property.
—Sofia Saric, Miami Herald, 24 Feb. 2026
In a top-load washer, these might have gotten sucked into the agitator or spun out into the front panel of the machine.
—Ashley Chalmers, The Spruce, 20 Feb. 2026
His record as an effective agitator for Black advancement positioned him as a go-to adviser for Chicago politicians who sought his endorsement.
—Alice Yin, Chicago Tribune, 17 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for agitator
Recent Examples of Synonyms for agitator
Noun
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The mineral-rich eastern Congo has been battered by decades of unrest as government forces fight more than 100 armed groups, the most potent the M23 rebel group backed by Rwanda.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
20 Mar. 2026
-
Ai, a Chinese Vietnamese American filmmaker and writer, focuses on rebels and outsiders of mainstream culture.—
Chris Gardner,
HollywoodReporter,
20 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
In her concession statement, McDonnell said her campaign had been to provide Republican voters with a choice to fill the open seat, thanking her supporters.—
Joseph States,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Mar. 2026
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While Lamont and gun safety advocates strongly favor the measure, supporters of the Second Amendment have been pushing back in both oral and written testimony to the judiciary committee that included more than 180 comments written anonymously.—
Christopher Keating,
Hartford Courant,
25 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Certainly Arendt, who lived through arguably darker times, did not see them as merely a product of the era’s monstrous demagogues.—
Christine Smallwood,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Mar. 2026
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Following the outbreak of COVID-19, bias incidents and assaults against Asian Americans soared to alarming heights as demagogues on the streets and in high office inflamed xenophobic fear and animosity.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
16 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
French former Prime Minister Lionel Jospin, who gave France its 35-hour work week and then withdrew from politics after leading France’s Socialist Party to an earth-shaking presidential election defeat against far-right firebrand Jean-Marie Le Pen, has died.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
23 Mar. 2026
-
An angry deity hurled a firebrand at the swallow, singeing away its middle tail feathers.—
Kurt Snibbe,
Oc Register,
21 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Neither the artist’s team nor local promoters have issued an official statement regarding the cancellation or the rescheduling of the Milan concert, or possible adjustments to the immediate tour schedule.—
Franchesca Guim,
Billboard,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Local venue and promoter pre-sale will begin on March 25, with tickets going on sale on March 27.—
Payton Turkeltaub,
Variety,
25 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The singer has long been a proponent of strict boundaries between celebrities, fans, and paparazzi.—
Hattie Lindert,
Pitchfork,
22 Mar. 2026
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The purpose of the bill is to protect jobs and to limit stress on workers and customers, proponents said.—
Kaitlin McCallum,
Hartford Courant,
21 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The growth has elevated her from partisan provocateur to one of the most influential — and polarizing — voices on the right.—
Kevin Dolak,
HollywoodReporter,
18 Mar. 2026
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On Saturday, two Pennsylvania teens who federal prosecutors said were radicalized by ISIS attempted to detonate IED’s at a protest led by right-wing provocateur Jake Lang outside Gracie Mansion.—
Colin Mixson,
New York Daily News,
12 Mar. 2026
Noun
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To Alfredo De Avila, of the Oakland Center for Third World Organizing, the UFW’s claims that Communist insurgents are plotting against Chavez and his union highlight how far the UFW has fallen.—
Marcos Breton,
Sacbee.com,
24 Mar. 2026
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Bakri is more brittle in Farah Nabulsi’s The Teacher as Basem, a Palestinian teacher in the West Bank whose support for insurgents grows after his own son dies in prison and as Israeli settlers brutalize his neighborhood.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
24 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Agitator.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/agitator. Accessed 27 Mar. 2026.
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