Agitate is a verb with several related meanings. It can mean to move something around, to make someone uneasyfeeling nervous, troubled, or not fully comfortable or excited, to stir up public feeling, or to work activelyin a way that involves doing things with energy and purpose for a causean idea or goal that people support and work for.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-26. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /ˈædʒəˌteɪt/
Easy pronunciation: AJ-uh-TAYT (approximate spelling).
Stress: Stress on the first syllable.
Use this pronunciation for the verb meaning to make someone feel excited, uneasy, or worked up.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-26. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Agitate Meaning
to make someone feel excited, uneasy, or worked up
Part of speech: verb
Definition: cause to be agitated, excited, or roused
Example: The news agitated the crowd.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- excite — A close match when agitate means to rouse strong feeling.
- rouse — Works well for making someone become alert or emotionally stirred.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-26. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Other Meanings of Agitate
Meaning 2
to move or disturb the position of something
Part of speech: verb
Definition: change the arrangement or position of
Example: The machine agitated the mixture.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- disturb — Possible, but broader and less exact than agitate in this physical sense.
- shake up — Can fit when something is being mixed or disturbed physically.
Meaning 3
to shake something back and forth
Part of speech: verb
Definition: move or cause to move back and forth
Example: The lab technician agitated the test tube gently.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- shake — Direct physical match for this sense.
Meaning 4
to encourage strong public feeling or unrest
Part of speech: verb
Definition: try to stir up public opinion
Example: The speech agitated public opinion.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- foment — A good match when agitate means to stir up unrest or trouble.
- stir up — Works well for provoking public feeling.
Meaning 5
to campaign or work hard for a cause
Part of speech: verb
Definition: exert oneself continuously, vigorously, or obtrusively to gain an end or engage in a crusade for a certain cause or person; be an advocate for
Example: She agitated for better pay for years.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- campaign — A practical synonym when agitate means to work publicly for a cause.
- crusade — Fits when the meaning is strong, determined advocacy, though it is less neutral.
- press — Can work in the sense of pressing for action or support.
- push — Possible in informal contexts meaning to promote strongly.
- fight — Works when the emphasis is on struggling for a cause.
Meaning 6
to move just a little
Part of speech: verb
Definition: move very slightly
Example: He tried to agitate the stuck lid, but it barely moved.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- budge — Good when agitate means to move only a little.
- shift — A natural substitute for slight movement.
- stir — Can fit for a very small movement, though it is less exact.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: inaccurate — correction needed. Checked: 2026-10-26. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Agitate Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- excite
- rouse
physical movement or disturbance
- shake
- disturb
- shake up
stirring up public feeling or unrest
- foment
- stir up
working actively for a cause
- campaign
- press
- push
- fight
moving only a little
- budge
- shift
- stir
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-26. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- Using agitate to mean only 'worry' or 'annoy' in all contexts.
- Confusing the political sense with the physical shaking sense.
- Using campaign or crusade for the emotional or physical meanings.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-26. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does agitate mean in simple English?
Agitate can mean to shake or move something, to upset or excite someone, or to work strongly for a cause.
What is a good synonym for agitate?
It depends on the sense. Common synonyms include excite, rouse, shake, foment, campaign, and budge.
Is agitate a negative word?
Often it is, especially when it means to upset someone or stir up unrest. But it can also be neutral in physical or activist contexts.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-26. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.