agitate
20 synonyms and 1 antonym for agitate, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Verb — To make someone anxious, upset, or unsettled.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
How to use agitate
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
agitate the mixture
agitate for change
visibly agitated
Etymology
From Latin agitare, "to keep moving, drive on" — a frequentative form of agere, "to drive or move," the same root as "act" and "agent."
Full origin of agitate →Frequently asked questions
What does “agitate” mean?
The word “agitate” means to make someone anxious, upset, or unsettled. In plain terms, to stir something up — literally (shaking a liquid) or figuratively (making someone anxious, or campaigning loudly for change).
How do you pronounce “agitate”?
“Agitate” is pronounced A-jih-tayt (/ˈæ.d͡ʒɪ.teɪt/ in IPA).
How do you use “agitate” in a sentence?
Here is “agitate” used in a sentence: “The news of the delay agitated the already nervous passengers.”
What part of speech is “agitate”?
“Agitate” is a verb.
Where does the word “agitate” come from?
The word “agitate” comes from Latin. From Latin agitare, "to keep moving, drive on" — a frequentative form of agere, "to drive or move," the same root as "act" and "agent.".
How many meanings does “agitate” have?
“Agitate” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to make someone anxious, upset, or unsettled.
