Synonyms of agitate

agitate 1 of 2

verb

ˈa-jə-ˌtāt 

1

as in to stir

to cause (as a liquid) to move about in a circle especially repeatedly

this room could use a ceiling fan to agitate the stuffy air a bit

Synonyms & Similar Words

• stir
• wash
• swirl
• shake
• whisk
• churn
• whip
• whirl
• beat
• wheel
• paddle
• reel

2

as in to disturb

to trouble the mind of; to make uneasy

there's no need to agitate the patient about little things

Synonyms & Similar Words

• disturb
• bother
• distract
• worry
• alarm
• concern
• unsettle
• anger
• annoy
• upset
• distress
• irritate
• perturb
• haunt
• derail
• confuse
• discompose
• discomfort
• unhinge
• plague
• disquiet
• ail
• undo
• rattle
• embarrass
• exercise
• dismay
• aggravate
• fuss
• exasperate
• flurry
• distemper
• harass
• rile
• freak (out)
• discourage
• vex
• irk
• frazzle
• alarum
• pester
• weird out
• bug
• chafe
• bedevil
• hagride
• pique
• put off
• fluster
• grate
• put out
• disconcert
• fret
• chivvy
• discomfit
• mortify
• confound
• discountenance
• gall
• get
• harry
• nettle
• demoralize
• chivy
• dispirit
• unnerve
• dishearten
• shake up
• faze
• abash
• peeve
• jar
• daunt
• nonplus

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• settle
• soothe
• compose
• calm
• quiet
• alleviate
• allay
• assuage
• tranquilize
• tranquillize
• pacify
• placate
• appease
• mollify
• conciliate
• propitiate

3

as in to shake

to make a series of small irregular or violent movements

set the washing machine so it will agitate for four minutes before going into the rinse cycle

Synonyms & Similar Words

• shake
• vibrate
• jerk
• shudder
• tremble
• quiver
• convulse
• shiver
• sway
• jiggle
• bucket
• twitch
• wobble
• jolt
• wabble
• quake
• swing
• joggle
• judder
• jounce
• flicker
• throb
• wave
• rock
• chatter
• flutter
• oscillate
• thrill
• pulsate
• waver
• fluctuate
• undulate
• quaver
• palpitate
• pulse
• beat
• dodder
• pit-a-pat
• pitter-patter

4

as in to discuss

to talk about (an issue) usually from various points of view and for the purpose of arriving at a decision or opinion

a question which has been agitated by the legislature time and time again

Synonyms & Similar Words

• discuss
• debate
• argue
• dispute
• canvass
• talk over
• raise
• review
• canvas
• moot
• bandy
• bat (around or back and forth)
• introduce
• consider
• propound
• talk (about)
• hash (over or out)
• stir up
• speak (about)
• weigh
• broach
• deliberate
• forge
• hammer out
• thrash (out)
• wrestle (with)
• talk out
• chew over

agitation

2 of 2

noun

ˌa-jə-ˈtā-shən 

1

as in frenzy

a state of wildly excited activity or emotion

knew immediately, from the horses' agitation, that something terrible was happening

Synonyms & Similar Words

• frenzy
• rampage
• rage
• hysteria
• delirium
• fury
• fever
• feverishness
• furore
• uproar
• furor
• confusion
• distraction
• flap
• deliriousness
• chaos
• turmoil
• commotion
• disorder
• disturbance
• stir
• havoc
• pandemonium
• tumult
• to-do
• clamor
• bedlam
• clatter
• bustle
• ruckus
• brouhaha
• tempest
• hubbub
• ruction
• hullabaloo
• rumpus
• storm
• fuss
• squall
• shindy
• hurly-burly
• hoo-hah
• stew
• bother
• hoo-ha

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• peace
• tranquillity
• calmness
• still
• calm
• quietude
• tranquility
• restfulness
• stillness
• quiet
• serenity
• placidity
• repose
• peacefulness
• sereneness
• tranquilness

2

as in anxiety

an uneasy state of mind usually over the possibility of an anticipated misfortune or trouble

experienced a great deal of agitation over whether she had an appropriate dress for her husband's inauguration

Synonyms & Similar Words

• anxiety
• fear
• concern
• worry
• unease
• concernment
• uneasiness
• nervousness
• disquietude
• fearfulness
• apprehension
• perturbation
• disquiet
• tension
• uncertainty
• solicitude
• apprehensiveness
• discomfort
• anxiousness
• panic
• desperation
• sweat
• stress
• care
• nervosity
• agita
• anguish
• disturbance
• distress
• dread
• doubt
• tremor
• consternation
• desperateness
• dismay
• strain
• angst
• alarm
• upset
• vexation
• discomposure
• jitters
• torment
• suspense
• distraction
• jumpiness
• hand-wringing
• edginess
• misgiving
• alarum
• compunction
• franticness
• presentiment
• incertitude
• qualm
• scruple
• foreboding
• cold feet

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• unconcern
• peace
• ease
• tranquillity
• content
• contentment
• calmness
• calm
• quietude
• tranquility
• quiet
• serenity
• easiness
• placidity
• relief
• peacefulness
• comfort
• placidness
• solace
• consolation
• sereneness
• tranquilness

Examples of agitate in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Knowing there was only 50-50 chance of receiving the shock agitated the volunteers far more than knowing the painful shock was imminent, highlighting how much more unsettling uncertainty can be compared to the certainty of discomfort. —Dr. Mithu Storoni, TIME, 16 Sep. 2024

Critiques of Musk have tried to stress the severity of the billionaire agitating a foreign Government and encouraging extremist ideologies and behavior. —Lily Ford, The Hollywood Reporter, 7 Aug. 2024

Noun

Not long after Amazon officials got wind of the agitation, the retail giant canceled its contract with the company, forcing it to close and putting Singh and the others out of work. —Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 24 Sep. 2024

Dimethyl sulfoxide given through the vein may cause the same symptoms, as well as weakness, confusion, and agitation. —Kirstyn Hill, Pharmd, Mph, Health, 22 Sep. 2024