AGITATING Synonyms: 196 Similar and Opposite Words

agitating 1 of 2

adjective

as in uneasy

marked by or causing agitation or uncomfortable feelings no more agitating waits to find out sports scores—get them instantly online!

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

agitating

2 of 2

verb

present participle of agitate

as in stirring

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

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as in bothering

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in shaking

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

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as in discussing

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

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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 agitating

Verb

One of the loudest voices in the cattle world agitating against the border reopening is Bill Bullard, the CEO of R-CALF, a national association of independent cattle and sheep farmers. — Max Saltman, CNN Money, 22 Aug. 2026 Eritreans began agitating for independence in the 1960s, which only happened after decades of war and a regime change in Ethiopia. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 14 Aug. 2026 Too much precarity, too little success, and too much commitment to naturally-occurring outcomes means that openly agitating for more diversity can be a nonstarter. — Adia Harvey Wingfield, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026 Instead of budgeting for $1,800 in tissues, the school insists on agitating parents all summer over crap like this. — Joe Kinsey Outkick, FOXNews.com, 6 Aug. 2026 Kucherov’s 51 points in 42 career regular-season games and agitating awesomeness against Florida have him at the top of the list. — Sean McIndoe, New York Times, 25 July 2026 Washing machines take care of that with their tumbling or agitating action. — Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 5 July 2026 After that, the day shift starts agitating for a pizza party. — Tasha Robinson, Vulture, 16 June 2026 What Elliott did not know in 2024, Kapur says, is that his team had already begun working on the breakup the investor was agitating for. — Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 12 June 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for agitating

Adjective

As the video popped up on social media and the Spanish-language Facebook group Danbury Al Dia, Hernandez grew uneasy.

— Laura Tillman, Hartford Courant, 31 Aug. 2026
In addition to Cima and her father, the film centers on Hig and Bangley (Josh Brolin), two very different men whose uneasy partnership is shaped by the harsh realities of their new world.

— Lily Brown, PEOPLE, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of uneasy

Verb

That afternoon, the president, inside the exposition’s ornate Temple of Music, greeted members of the public, shaking hands and warmly inviting them to explore the fair.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 Aug. 2026
The handcuffs were taken off, and he was allowed to board, shaking with shock.

— Shimon Prokupecz, CNN Money, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of shaking

Verb

This means a vaccine or treatment isn't routinely recommended for everyone, but may be appropriate for some people after discussing the benefits and risks with a healthcare provider.

— Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2026
The show features Lovett and a panel of guests from the worlds of politics, comedy, journalism and business discussing and poking fun at the news of the week.

— Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of discussing

Adjective

The project follows a husband and wife who buy their dream ranch only to discover the land is alive with ancient spirits, and survival means submitting to increasingly disturbing rituals with each turn of the season.

— Anthony D'Alessandro, Deadline, 1 Sep. 2026
You might be surprised by just how disturbing The Texas Chain Saw Massacre remains more than 50 years later.

— Brianna Zigler, Entertainment Weekly, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of disturbing

Verb

Now, a new enigmatic 10-sided feature known as the decagon has been spotted swirling on the complete opposite side of the ringed planet.

— Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2026
Early Tuesday morning, Anaheim mayor Ashleigh Aitken started getting a slew of calls and texts — rumors were swirling about a potential landmark day in her hometown.

— Sam Blum, New York Times, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of swirling

Verb

The distracting Diwali fireworks distracted led to reshoots of the pivotal moment.

— Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 26 Aug. 2026
Not only are these sheer curtains over half off right now, but the subtle stripe adds just enough visual interest without distracting from your room’s overall design scheme.

— Kate McGregor, Architectural Digest, 26 Aug. 2026