as in rebels
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 agitators
Leading Arab agitators, Husseini among them, fomented anti-Jewish violence, hoping to sway British opinion away from creating a Jewish state.
—
Sean Durns, The Washington Examiner, 12 Sep. 2025
Some agitators—likely external infiltrators—pushed the protesters forward, tearing down barricades as chants intensified.
—Sonal Nain, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Sep. 2025
The Sweet family defended themselves by firing shots and killing one of the agitators, which led to a murder trial.
—Dana Afana, Freep.com, 14 Aug. 2025
Pastor John Hagee, the influential Founder and Chairman of Christians United for Israel (CUFI), said fringe online agitators and politicians are motivated by two distinct impulses in their attacks on Israel.
—Amelie Botbol, FOXNews.com, 10 Aug. 2025
Republicans have blamed many of those confrontations on Democratic activists and agitators.
—Julia Manchester, The Hill, 14 Mar. 2025
One of the book’s most intriguing characters is Roth, a judge who used racial slurs in private and initially viewed NAACP lawyers as outside agitators.
—John Blake, CNN, 12 Mar. 2025
Multiple agitators were arrested during the operation.
—Rachel Wolf, Fox News, 12 Mar. 2025
Many are not students, they are paid agitators.
—Faisal Kutty, Newsweek, 11 Mar. 2025
Sean Durns, The Washington Examiner, 12 Sep. 2025
Some agitators—likely external infiltrators—pushed the protesters forward, tearing down barricades as chants intensified.
—Sonal Nain, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Sep. 2025
The Sweet family defended themselves by firing shots and killing one of the agitators, which led to a murder trial.
—Dana Afana, Freep.com, 14 Aug. 2025
Pastor John Hagee, the influential Founder and Chairman of Christians United for Israel (CUFI), said fringe online agitators and politicians are motivated by two distinct impulses in their attacks on Israel.
—Amelie Botbol, FOXNews.com, 10 Aug. 2025
Republicans have blamed many of those confrontations on Democratic activists and agitators.
—Julia Manchester, The Hill, 14 Mar. 2025
One of the book’s most intriguing characters is Roth, a judge who used racial slurs in private and initially viewed NAACP lawyers as outside agitators.
—John Blake, CNN, 12 Mar. 2025
Multiple agitators were arrested during the operation.
—Rachel Wolf, Fox News, 12 Mar. 2025
Many are not students, they are paid agitators.
—Faisal Kutty, Newsweek, 11 Mar. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for agitators
Noun
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By the finale, the galactic chessboard is crowded with players—emperors, rebels, prophets, impostors—but as Hari Seldon (Jared Harris) warned in the very first episode, the center cannot hold.—
JP Mangalindan,
Time,
12 Sep. 2025
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The proceeds from the arms sales were then used to fund right-wing, anti-communist rebels, known as the Contras, in Nicaragua.—
Meredith Kile,
PEOPLE,
11 Sep. 2025
Noun
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This might enable a mission which, for example, a Viper is located covertly next to a safe house known to be used by insurgents.—
David Hambling,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
-
The state Republicans have routinely witnessed battles between far-right insurgents who in recent years have complained the party isn’t Trumpy enough and the financial institutional wing that has long been the GOP establishment and funded the party for decades.—
Rick Pearson,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
How are Kirk’s supporters responding?—
Dalia Faheid,
CNN Money,
14 Sep. 2025
-
Back in 2001, a group of Enfield FC supporters realised which way the wind was blowing — and how far away their team was going — and formed a breakaway club.—
Michael Cox,
New York Times,
14 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Given the peculiar recent musings of provocateurs like Tucker Carlson, the speech was timelier than ever.—
Josh Hammer,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Sep. 2025
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So instead of making these obvious points to union provocateurs such as Davis Gates, our political leaders treat her with kid gloves.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
24 Aug. 2025
Noun
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When Sarah McLachlan first hatched the idea for the 1990s women-only Lilith Fair tour, concert promoters openly questioned whether female singer-songwriters could perform back to back on a traveling festival bill and sell enough tickets.—
Etan Vlessing,
HollywoodReporter,
12 Sep. 2025
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Important To The Event IndyCar and Penske Entertainment – the promoters of the Music City Grand Prix – indicated approximately 40,000 people were in attendance over the course of the two-day, Labor Day weekend event.—
Bruce Martin,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Even so, proponents of speed reading programs point to data showing that students’ reading speed improves while maintaining comprehension.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
16 Sep. 2025
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In favor of semiannual On the other hand, proponents see benefits to less frequent reporting.—
Zev Fima,
CNBC,
16 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Our shrinking attention span has left us vulnerable to demagogues and misinformation from every direction.—
Doug McIntyre,
Oc Register,
31 Aug. 2025
-
Because huge shocks to the system tend to empower either a) bold problem solvers or b) populist demagogues.—
Matt K. Lewis,
Twin Cities,
19 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Naming an interstate war based on the state in which the war is fought – while omitting the name of outside instigators – implies the culpability of that state.—
Esther Brito Ruiz,
The Conversation,
5 Sep. 2025
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One of the main instigators, Starboard Value, is back for more.—
Jordan Novet,
CNBC,
2 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Agitators.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/agitators. Accessed 19 Sep. 2025.
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