as in rebel
a person who stirs up public feelings especially of discontent
a political agitator who led an unsuccessful revolt against the government
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Recent Examples of agitator
Several of the demonstrations erupted into riots after an anti-immigrant misinformation campaign stoked outrage and far-right agitators targeted hotels housing asylum-seekers.
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Lauren Kent, CNN, 29 Oct. 2024
Ever the agitator for his ideals, the elusive and mercurial Goldman throws his own trial into chaos, risking a death sentence.
—Linda Chase, Sun Sentinel, 14 Sep. 2024
The posts linked a global network of agitators who have seized on the influx of migrants seeking political asylum or economic opportunity to build seething followings online.
—Steven Lee Myers, New York Times, 10 Aug. 2024
Spanish media reported earlier in the week anti-Israel agitators would protest outside the stadium where the match was being played, targeting the club and its fans.
—Ryan Gaydos, Fox News, 8 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for agitator 
Lauren Kent, CNN, 29 Oct. 2024
Ever the agitator for his ideals, the elusive and mercurial Goldman throws his own trial into chaos, risking a death sentence.
—Linda Chase, Sun Sentinel, 14 Sep. 2024
The posts linked a global network of agitators who have seized on the influx of migrants seeking political asylum or economic opportunity to build seething followings online.
—Steven Lee Myers, New York Times, 10 Aug. 2024
Spanish media reported earlier in the week anti-Israel agitators would protest outside the stadium where the match was being played, targeting the club and its fans.
—Ryan Gaydos, Fox News, 8 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for agitator
Recent Examples of Synonyms for agitator
Noun
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Israel, Iran race to cement relations with Syrian rebels The sudden fall this weekend of the Assad regime, long backed by Iran and allied with its proxy forces in the region, represented a welcome development for Netanyahu.Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA TODAY, 10 Dec. 2024
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As Bashar al-Assad's government collapsed and Syrian rebels rose to power, Israel embarked on an extensive bombing campaign, purportedly aimed at disarming extremists who may rise to power during the unrest.Joseph Epstein, Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2024
Noun
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This happened right in front of the away supporters who cheered and Spence then whipped his arms up asking for more noise.Jay Harris, The Athletic, 16 Dec. 2024
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The comments, published in 2023 biography of Romney, were sparked by Vance's transformation from a Trump critic to a staunch supporter.Zac Anderson, The Enquirer, 16 Dec. 2024
Noun
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So when a demagogue like Trump speaks to her pain and promises to bring factories back, of course her heart leaps.Nicholas Kristof, The Mercury News, 4 Sep. 2024
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As a result, the very outcome the founders most feared, namely election of a demagogue by a gullible cult of true-believers, has been made possible because of the Electoral College, which was originally designed to avoid precisely that outcome.Joseph J. Ellis, The Mercury News, 31 Oct. 2024
Noun
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House Republican leader, Newt Gingrich, led a rebellion against the package, and conservative firebrand Pat Buchanan challenged Bush in the 1992 primaries, weakening Bush's bid for a second term.Ron Elving, NPR, 7 Dec. 2024
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Matt Gaetz was an inspired pick for attorney general, but some of the Republican senators simply couldn't let a firebrand do what the American people wanted.Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Trump's pick for the head of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has been a staunch promoter of anti-vaccination policies and has pushed for the end of fluoride in water supplies.Ivan Pereira, ABC News, 26 Nov. 2024
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Yet the volume of the commentary about the Tyson fight, as well as the celebrities and public figures who chimed in, compelled the promoter to defend itself, an unusual step in the boxing world.Jason Clinkscales, Sportico.com, 25 Nov. 2024
Noun
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And, unlike financial commitments made at the UN climate conference, this decision would put rules in place that proponents say would be hard for the incoming Trump administration to undo.Zoë Schlanger, The Atlantic, 13 Dec. 2024
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In 2023, the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals sided with the opponents, halting the project, but proponents petitioned the Supreme Court to review that decision.Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Although he’s always been a divisive figure, the author is now seen less as a provocateur and more as an out-of-touch misogynist.The Atlantic, The Atlantic, 4 Dec. 2024
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That’s exactly what Maurizio Cattelan, the artist and provocateur behind Comedian, intended.Natalie Stoclet, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024
Noun
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The country is now largely under the control of an insurgent group named Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, or HTS.Kim Hjelmgaard, USA TODAY, 16 Dec. 2024
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Initially a religious movement focused on promoting Yemen's Zaidi Shiite Muslim community, Ansar Allah grew into a powerful insurgent group that captured large swathes of northern territory, including Sanaa, between late 2014 and early 2015.Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 16 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near agitator
Cite this Entry
“Agitator.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/agitator. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.
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