agitate
AJ-ih-teyt
/ˈædʒ.ɪ.teɪt/
To campaign publically and forcefully for political change, or to stir up public discussion and concern.
Implies intentional disruption of public complacency to bring urgent attention to an injustice.
The story behind the word. From Latin 'agitare' (to keep moving or drive violently), the frequentative form of 'agere' (to drive). Political agitators keep driving and shaking up dormant political situations.
Word relationships
- instigate: Instigate often implies provoking negative conflict, while agitate means stirring discussion for political action.
- mollify: Mollify means to soothe, appease, or calm public outrage and discontent.
Commonly confused with
- irritate: Irritate means causing personal annoyance; agitate in political contexts means driving social awakening.
Word family
- agitator (noun): A person who urges public protest and political change.
- agitation (noun): Public excitement, debate, or turbulent political campaigning.
Collocations
- agitate for reform
- agitate against
- political agitator
- agitate public opinion
Idioms & expressions
- stir the waters
Example sentences
- "Abolitionists spent decades attempting to agitate the national conscience against the cruelty of human slavery." Historical movements
- "Union leaders continued to agitate for safer factory working conditions despite corporate threats." Labor reform
Memory hook
AGITATE: Like a washing machine agitator, constantly stirring things up. Stirring up public motion and debate.
When not to use
Avoid when describing peaceful, quiet, behind-the-scenes administrative work.
Fun facts
- Frederick Douglass famously declared: 'Agitate, agitate, agitate!' as his primary instruction to civil rights campaigners.
Explore more words
activism, advocate, vociferate, ignite, vociferous, instigate
Also appears in
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