to agitate

Examples

• All

• I agitate his already delicate sense of mental equilibrium.

  Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) (2020)

• That alarm is designed to agitate you because the stress of your life demands more love from you.

  Mel Robbins

• Questions of the role of prayer in public schools continue to agitate the court system.

  Academic text (1990)

• While music can be used, keep the volume at a level that does not agitate students with FAS.

  Academic text (1996)

• Did he recently appear to be agitated or depressed in any way?

  Klute (1971)

• People may also be reluctant to eat if they are feeling anxious or agitated.

  Academic text (2010)

• We should all stick to our set routine and not get unduly agitated.

  Alien³ (1992)

• They appear to be in a highly agitated state, Nathalie.

  Mars Attacks! (1996)

• More than he had anticipated, he was agitated by memories and exhilarated at the prospect of leaving.

  Fiction book (1994)

• But he is noticeably agitated when the issue of prosecutorial misconduct is raised.

  Academic text (2011)

Synonyms

E

to excite

vsto agitate

331 2.7

To make someone feel very happy, interested, or eager

also covers making someone feel upset or emotionally troubled

S

to stimulate

vsto agitate

236 3.7

Make a person or thing more active, alert and responsive

is more about emotional stirring, not just general activation or alertness

S

to stir

vsto agitate

131 3.7

To make someone feel a strong emotion

is similar but also includes making someone feel troubled or upset

P

to provoke

vsto agitate

115 3.7

Cause a reaction or feeling

is broader, covering accidental or indirect emotional stirring as well

A

to anger

vsto agitate

114 1.0

To make someone very upset or annoyed

covers a range of strong or troubled feelings beyond one emotion

A

to arouse

vsto agitate

57 4.1

Cause a feeling or strong reaction in people

is more about causing mixed strong emotions, including upset

C

to charge

vsto agitate

54 4.1

Fill a place with strong feeling or energy

often implies emotional disturbance rather than only energetic filling

S

to stir up

vsto agitate

48 4.8

To make people feel strong emotions like anger or fear

can be deliberate or accidental and includes nontrouble emotions

I

to ignite

vsto agitate

47 4.4

To cause strong feelings in someone

includes both passionate excitement and feelings that trouble someone

A

to aggravate

vsto agitate

43 4.2

Annoy someone and make them angrier

is not limited to annoyance and includes excited or troubled stirring

G

to galvanize

vsto agitate

39 6.7

To make people feel shocked and excited so they act

is mainly about stirring feelings, whether active or merely troubled

I

to instigate

vsto agitate

36 6.9

To cause something bad to start

focuses on stirring feelings directly rather than initiating external events

I

to inflame

vsto agitate

31 5.8

To make people's feelings stronger, especially anger or hate

is broader, increasing emotion both positive and negative

R

to rouse

vsto agitate

16 5.1

To make people feel strong emotion and want to act

stresses emotional disturbance that may be excited or troubled

E

to electrify

vsto agitate

14 4.1

To make people feel very excited and want to act

also covers causing worry or disturbance, not only thrilling excitement

G

to get a rise out of

vsto agitate

• Informal

8 6.8

Make someone angry or annoyed on purpose by teasing them

can stir emotions unintentionally and is not only provocative

E

to enthuse

vsto agitate

7 5.5

To make someone feel excited about something

can include negative or troubling emotional stirring, not only enthusiasm

P

to perturb

vsto agitate

7 7.0

To make someone feel worried or uneasy

is broader, also covering excited or agitated feelings besides unease

C

to charge up

vsto agitate

• Informal

4 4.8

To make people feel excited and ready to act

can also mean making someone troubled or unsettled rather than only roused

G

to get one's dander up

vsto agitate

• Informal

1 9.1

To make someone angry

may instead create varied strong emotions beyond anger or irritation

E

to enkindle

vsto agitate

• Archaic

1 9.2

To make someone feel a strong emotion

focuses more on stirring with possible upset as well as inspiration

C

to consternate

vsto agitate

• Archaic

1 9.9

To make someone feel sudden shock and worry

is more general, covering strong feelings that are not only shock

C

to commove

vsto agitate

• Archaic

9.9

To disturb people or things

is broader, adding both excitement and troubled strong feelings

S

to stir someone's blood

vsto agitate

6.0

To make someone feel strong excitement or deep emotion

adds a sense of causing someone to feel troubled or unsettled

E

to enflame

vsto agitate

6.4

To make feelings like anger or excitement stronger

can mean mild stirring as well as deep emotional upset

Antonyms

C

to calm

962 1.0

Make a person or animal less upset

S

to soothe

63 3.4

To make someone feel calmer or reduce their pain

How Agitated

to enrage

68 3.7

to agitate

42 4.8

to disturb

153 2.5

to rile

63 6.9

to unsettle

7 4.9

Surface Forms

Etymology