agitator
noun
ag·i·ta·tor
ˈa-jə-ˌtā-tər 
: one that agitates: such as
a
: one who stirs up public feeling on controversial issues
political agitators
b
: a device or an apparatus for stirring or shaking
Synonyms
Examples of agitator in a Sentence
The police arrested several anti-government agitators.
a political agitator who led an unsuccessful revolt against the government
Recent Examples on the Web
A day later, at least 108 students were suspended and removed after the school's president, claiming outside agitators were posing a risk on campus, asked the New York Police Department to intervene.
—
Jennifer Vilcarino, ABC News, 10 May 2024
Daniel O’Shea, a former high-ranking official for the Chicago Police Department, said that law enforcement would be watching for signs of agitators who join a protest with the intent to disrupt it or break the law.
—Mitch Smith, New York Times, 8 May 2024
When Marjorie Taylor Greene announced her plans to oust Mike Johnson from the speakership, the conservative agitator committed to follow through on her threats and call a vote on the speaker’s future.
—Ken Tran, USA TODAY, 8 May 2024
Later that day, pro-Palestinian agitators and pro-Israeli counterprotesters clashed at DePaul University’s Lincoln Park campus.
—Avani Kalra, Chicago Tribune, 6 May 2024
Hansford also makes the distinction between agitators — who may be trying to instigate trouble — and infiltrators — who may belong to an opposing group trying to undermine a cause from the inside.
3.
—NPR, 6 May 2024
Advertisement Days earlier, campus leadership had directed Thomas to create a safety plan that would protect the UCLA community after the encampment was put up last week and began drawing agitators, the sources said.
—Teresa Watanabe, Los Angeles Times, 4 May 2024
Others shared rumors about police action and outside agitators and pointed students to live streams to watch the events unfold.
—Laura Doan, CBS News, 3 May 2024
Loach is the rare movie agitator who can point to results.
—Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2024
Jennifer Vilcarino, ABC News, 10 May 2024
Daniel O’Shea, a former high-ranking official for the Chicago Police Department, said that law enforcement would be watching for signs of agitators who join a protest with the intent to disrupt it or break the law.
—Mitch Smith, New York Times, 8 May 2024
When Marjorie Taylor Greene announced her plans to oust Mike Johnson from the speakership, the conservative agitator committed to follow through on her threats and call a vote on the speaker’s future.
—Ken Tran, USA TODAY, 8 May 2024
Later that day, pro-Palestinian agitators and pro-Israeli counterprotesters clashed at DePaul University’s Lincoln Park campus.
—Avani Kalra, Chicago Tribune, 6 May 2024
Hansford also makes the distinction between agitators — who may be trying to instigate trouble — and infiltrators — who may belong to an opposing group trying to undermine a cause from the inside.
3.
—NPR, 6 May 2024
Advertisement Days earlier, campus leadership had directed Thomas to create a safety plan that would protect the UCLA community after the encampment was put up last week and began drawing agitators, the sources said.
—Teresa Watanabe, Los Angeles Times, 4 May 2024
Others shared rumors about police action and outside agitators and pointed students to live streams to watch the events unfold.
—Laura Doan, CBS News, 3 May 2024
Loach is the rare movie agitator who can point to results.
—Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'agitator.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near agitator
Cite this Entry
“Agitator.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/agitator. Accessed 16 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
agitator
noun
ag·i·ta·tor
ˈaj-ə-ˌtāt-ər
1
: a person who stirs up public feeling
2
: a device for stirring or shaking
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