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
Goche said much of the anger toward ICE is fueled by misinformation and agitators.
—
Brooke Taylor, FOXNews.com, 3 June 2026
The governor continued her call for peaceful demonstrations and urged outside agitators to stay home.
—Mark Prussin, CBS News, 31 May 2026
Longtime forward Claude Lemieux, one of hockey’s fiercest competitors and greatest agitators during a memorable 21-year NHL career that included four Stanley Cup championships and a one-year stint in the San Jose Sharks organization, died unexpectedly on Thursday.
—Curtis Pashelka, Mercury News, 28 May 2026
Asked about Valdez, Bis said law enforcement deployed chemical irritants including pepper balls, but not rubber bullets, after agitators attempted to breach the perimeter at Glass House Farms.
—Andrea Castillo, Los Angeles Times, 26 May 2026
Instead of removing the anti-free speech agitators, UNLV police escorted Peer off campus.
—Editorial, Boston Herald, 9 May 2026
Instead of removing the anti-free speech agitators, UNLV police escorted Peer off campus.
—Las Vegas Review-Journal, Twin Cities, 7 May 2026
The Lightning were without Brandon Hagel and Anthony Cirelli, two of the main agitators from the first matchup.
—Matthew Fairburn, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2026
Columbia students, along with outside agitators, broke into an academic building and temporarily detained the janitors inside.
—Rose Horowitch, The Atlantic, 25 Mar. 2026
Brooke Taylor, FOXNews.com, 3 June 2026
The governor continued her call for peaceful demonstrations and urged outside agitators to stay home.
—Mark Prussin, CBS News, 31 May 2026
Longtime forward Claude Lemieux, one of hockey’s fiercest competitors and greatest agitators during a memorable 21-year NHL career that included four Stanley Cup championships and a one-year stint in the San Jose Sharks organization, died unexpectedly on Thursday.
—Curtis Pashelka, Mercury News, 28 May 2026
Asked about Valdez, Bis said law enforcement deployed chemical irritants including pepper balls, but not rubber bullets, after agitators attempted to breach the perimeter at Glass House Farms.
—Andrea Castillo, Los Angeles Times, 26 May 2026
Instead of removing the anti-free speech agitators, UNLV police escorted Peer off campus.
—Editorial, Boston Herald, 9 May 2026
Instead of removing the anti-free speech agitators, UNLV police escorted Peer off campus.
—Las Vegas Review-Journal, Twin Cities, 7 May 2026
The Lightning were without Brandon Hagel and Anthony Cirelli, two of the main agitators from the first matchup.
—Matthew Fairburn, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2026
Columbia students, along with outside agitators, broke into an academic building and temporarily detained the janitors inside.
—Rose Horowitch, The Atlantic, 25 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for agitators
Noun
-
Cuba’s nationalization wave began soon after Fidel Castro’s rebels took control of the island in 1959.—
Max Saltman,
CNN Money,
4 June 2026
-
Gangs, rebels, and soldiers started massacring elephants, sometimes from military helicopters.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
3 June 2026
Noun
-
The primary race has been described as a potential sleeper for progressive insurgents looking to build on the remarkable long-shot victory of Mayor Mamdani in last year’s race for City Hall.—
Dave Goldiner,
New York Daily News,
26 May 2026
-
The insurgents have frequently targeted security forces, government installations and civilians in the province and elsewhere in the country.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
24 May 2026
Noun
-
In a June 3 letter provided to USA TODAY, Steyer's campaign reiterated the importance of counting each vote while urging supporters to make sure their ballot was accepted.—
Phillip M. Bailey,
USA Today,
5 June 2026
-
Vang’s supporters, including members of the California Working Families Party and the California Nurses Association, have accused Matsui of directing a super PAC to spend $119,000 to boost Wooden.—
Mathew Miranda
June 4,
Sacbee.com,
4 June 2026
Noun
-
Just a funny parasocial back-and-forth between some of the most passionate fans in sports and one of the best provocateurs the SEC has seen since Steve Spurrier.—
Austin Perry OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
1 May 2026
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Alliances with independents and provocateurs can bring younger crowds to the traditional news fold in an era when such viewership is not guaranteed.—
Brian Steinberg,
Variety,
20 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Nio signed on several brand promoters, including Robin Zeng, the CEO of CATL, the industry's battery giant, who affirmed in a marketing video that about 2,000 of his employees had bought Nio cars.—
Evelyn Cheng,
CNBC,
28 May 2026
-
Practical approaches to foster this connection can include participating in smaller club takeovers and hosting intimate pre-festival events that allow promoters, artists and brands to build direct relationships with audiences.—
Sunita Dhaliwal,
Forbes.com,
26 May 2026
Noun
-
And in the middle of the Iran war, its proponents fear that could pose a major national security risk.—
Zachary Schermele,
USA Today,
8 June 2026
-
This new age of beauty, proponents said, is about keeping your skin fresh in the long term rather than freaking about the appearance of aging in the present.—
Ramishah Maruf,
CNN Money,
7 June 2026
Noun
-
But those standards can be easily stretched by demagogues, and a simple majority on the committee is enough to ban a party, though a panel of nine Supreme Court justices can overturn the decision on appeal.—
Bernard Avishai,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
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But demeaning our brand through association with vulgar demagogues is a losing strategy.—
Alma Hernandez,
New York Daily News,
1 May 2026
Noun
-
There are leaders, lurkers, peacekeepers, instigators, and the person who only surfaces to drop an occasional thumbs-up.—
Sam Reed,
Glamour,
18 May 2026
-
All of that would be intriguing even if the founders of Deep Voodoo weren’t South Park instigators Trey Parker and Matt Stone.—
Steven Zeitchik,
HollywoodReporter,
31 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Agitators.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/agitators. Accessed 9 Jun. 2026.
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