AGITATES Synonyms: 168 Similar and Opposite Words

agitates

verb

present tense third-person singular of agitate

as in stirs

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

Relevance

as in disturbs

to trouble the mind of; to make uneasy there's no need to agitate the patient about little things

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in shakes

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

as in discusses

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

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of agitates The machine dryer agitates the clothing and prevents fibers from stiffening during drying, which is why clothing comes out feeling soft. — Emily Benda Gaylord, The Spruce, 23 Feb. 2026 This agitates me and my lead foot. — Matt Fuchs, Time, 20 Jan. 2026 As the sun agitates the moon, both options appeal. — Usa Today, USA Today, 5 Jan. 2026 To admit what hurts, agitates, and offends us in fact illuminates what is complicated and good in us. — Literary Hub, 10 Dec. 2025 Stacey Rusch, however, is a conflict that Gizelle is still very much negotiating in the present day, and the Detroit Diva’s aloof and irreverent nature agitates all of Gizelle’s worst traits. — Shamira Ibrahim, Vulture, 8 Dec. 2025 The explainer agitates the problem and leads to your solution. — Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2025 There’s even a room equipped with soft surfaces for when clients inadvertently take a drug that agitates them. — Katy Golvala, Hartford Courant, 4 Aug. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for agitates

Verb

The kitchen buzzes as volunteers carry in trays of Creole dishes and barbecue while one of the sisters stirs a large cooler of lemon margaritas.

— Windsor Johnston, NPR, 17 Aug. 2026
Refusing to do so, Luis stirs a rivalry and potentially endangers his own employment.

— Dennis Harvey, Variety, 31 July 2026

Definition of stirs

Verb

Tilling or plowing in the summer disturbs the soil's delicate ecosystem and exposes moist soil to rapid water loss.

— Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 24 June 2026
The pier in Michigan City’s Washington Park disturbs the natural flow of sand along the lakeshore, creating new land east of the pier but starving beaches to the west, an erosion problem repeated by other manmade structures that jut out into Lake Michigan.

— Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 15 June 2026

Definition of disturbs

Verb

Chinese President Xi Jinping shakes hands with Kuomintang (KMT) party leader Cheng Li-wun in Beijing on Friday, April 10, 2026.

— Charlie Campbell, Time, 11 Aug. 2026
Their first and only home exhibition game arrives Friday night, when the Denver Broncos and former Saints coach Sean Payton (shakes fist) pay a preseason visit.

— Tyler Estep, AJC.com, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of shakes

Verb

Orioles Hall of Famer Mike Bordick and sportscaster Jerry Coleman are joined by former Orioles coach Wayne Kirby, who discusses his time in Baltimore and the current ballclub.

— Baltimore Sun staff, Baltimore Sun, 19 Aug. 2026
Below, during a conversation with THR, Mundy also discusses how his previous series with Chandler, Bloodline, factored into Lanterns.

— Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of discusses

Verb

Repel Mice Ultrasonic mouse repellers emit high-frequency sound waves that humans can’t hear, but the high pitch bothers mice.

— Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 17 Aug. 2026
My concern is what happens when the signal becomes so established that nobody bothers separating it from the qualities it was supposed to represent.

— Jim Osman, Forbes.com, 9 Aug. 2026

Definition of bothers

Verb

This painstakingly restored 4K version looks and sounds gorgeous; cinematographer Dante Spinotti’s work glows with saturated vibrancy, and Michel Rubini and the Reds’ score vibrates on a spooky synth frequency.

— Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 29 July 2026
When the patch vibrates, that movement creates an electrical signal.

— Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 28 July 2026

Definition of vibrates

Verb

Nvidia is heading up a new alliance of tech industry giants focused on keeping open-source AI models secure as Washington debates how and whether to restrict them.

— Morgan Chalfant, semafor.com, 27 July 2026
The ’Obsession’ And ’Backrooms’ Lesson While Hollywood debates the merger, two films arrived that reframed what’s possible.

— Ashlee Difuntorum, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026