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

• rebel
• supporter
• demagogue
• firebrand
• promoter
• proponent
• provocateur
• insurgent
• demonstrator
• reformer
• protester
• advocate
• instigator
• apostle
• exciter
• demagog
• inciter
• rabble-rouser
• fomenter

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

But while that may serve Natthaphong’s interests to appear as the chief agitator for reform, losing his military foil could conversely prove problematic. —Charlie Campbell, Time, 15 Sep. 2025

The following day, Musk made a remote appearance at a London march organized by the far-right agitator known as Tommy Robinson. —Bloomberg, Mercury News, 15 Sep. 2025

Leading Arab agitators, Husseini among them, fomented anti-Jewish violence, hoping to sway British opinion away from creating a Jewish state. —Sean Durns, The Washington Examiner, 12 Sep. 2025

Some agitators—likely external infiltrators—pushed the protesters forward, tearing down barricades as chants intensified. —Sonal Nain, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

agitate + -or entry 1

First Known Use

1663, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for agitator

• activator
• actuator
• alligator
• allocator
• alternator
• animator
• annotator
• applicator
• arbitrator
• aspirator
• aviator
• calculator

Kids 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