agitate
/ˈadʒɪteɪt
/verb [with object]
1Make (someone) troubled or nervous: the thought of questioning Toby agitated him extremely...
- This person is agitated, anxious restless, tremulous and looses appetite and cannot sleep.
- He was extremely agitated and wouldn't let anyone near him before his father turned up.
- I had to make a decision; there were too many questions that kept agitating me.
Synonyms
upset, perturb, fluster, ruffle, disconcert, unnerve, disquiet, disturb, distress, unsettle, bother, concern, trouble, cause anxiety to, make anxious, alarm, work up, flurry, worry;
inflame, incite, provoke, stir up
informal rattle, faze, discombobulate
2Stir or disturb (something, especially a liquid) briskly: agitate the water to disperse the oil...
- In some management systems, agitating the liquid in pits has greatly reduced fly breeding.
- A pump inside the tank agitates the water, to ensure that the ice doesn't get too cold, and that the crystals produced remain on the small side.
- She agitates the water and then places the cup on the middle of the plastic platform.
Synonyms
stir, whisk, beat, churn, shake, toss, blend, whip (up), fold, roil, jolt, disturb
3 [no object] Campaign to arouse public concern about an issue in the hope of prompting action: they agitated for a reversal of the decision...
- There he agitated for free speech.
- Subsequently, with other intellectuals, he agitated for political and social change, earning a reputation as a mild radical and socialist.
- They agitated for American independence and the abolishment of slavery in the United States.
Synonyms
campaign, strive, battle, fight, struggle, crusade, push, press;
argue, debate, dispute, wrangle
Origin
Late Middle English (in the sense 'drive away'): from Latin agitat- 'agitated, driven', from agitare, frequentative of agere 'do, drive'.