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
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
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 2018, Assad had control of Damascus and Aleppo, and the rebels were confined to a jihadist ministate in Idlib.—
Graeme Wood,
The Atlantic,
2 Sep. 2025
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Yemen’s Houthi rebels on Saturday vowed to take revenge for the killing of their prime minister and other political leaders by Israeli airstrikes earlier this week.—
Eyad Kourdi,
CNN Money,
30 Aug. 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
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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
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After making a joke about the height of the microphone, Grande reiterated her appreciation for her supporters.—
Taylor Ardrey,
USA Today,
8 Sep. 2025
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And parents are enthusiastic supporters.—
Jemma Stephenson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 Sep. 2025
Noun
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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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The Geiers are widely viewed with contempt as promoters of unsubstantiated claims that vaccines cause autism.—
Judy Stone,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
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Lyte goes out of business Multiple sources reported that Lyte went out of business, shut down its website, laid off staff and left a number of concert promoters unpaid for hundreds of thousands of dollars in tickets sold on the platform in 2024.—
Marcus Smith,
Sacbee.com,
16 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Biden had selected Colorado Springs in 2023 as the permanent home for Space Command, a location proponents had said was best for military readiness.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
3 Sep. 2025
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But proponents of the Sensitivity Era want to keep others from joining that conversation.—
Kevin Dickinson,
Big Think,
2 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
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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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One of the main instigators, Starboard Value, is back for more.—
Jordan Novet,
CNBC,
2 Sep. 2025
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And the main instigators are men.—
Kamala Thiagarajan,
NPR,
31 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Agitators.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/agitators. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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