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agitator

agitator

16 6.5
A person who stirs up strong public feelings for political change
  • noun
  • /ˈædʒɪˌteɪtər/
translation icon : agitador
  • He was labeled an agitator after leading several demonstrations for workers' rights.
  • league of agitators
  • the work of agitators
  • female agitators

Well, my reaction to her was I am a equal opportunity agitator.

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Examples

  • In effect, the fears stirred up by anti-Catholic agitators became something of a self-fulfilling prophecy.

    Academic text (1991)
  • Is this the work of outside agitators?

  • But they are certainly ripening for any agitator who may come along.

    Academic text (2005)
  • I told you to stay away from these agitators.

  • You have a small group of really radical students who work hand in hand with outside professional agitators and they should be expelled.

  • She's a dangerous agitator and no corrective measures seem effective.

  • The leader was responsible for choosing new agitators, supervising their work, and running and organizing meetings.

    Academic text (2005)
  • Political parties had multiplied, fielding private armies of agitators and thugs who battled each other in the streets.

    Fiction book (2000)
  • The protest was organized by a well-known agitator who advocates for social change.

  • Local authorities accused the agitator of inciting unrest among the community.

Synonyms

activist
vsagitator
542 2.5

A person who campaigns for political or social change

stirs public feeling more directly and sometimes disruptively rather than organized campaigning
troublemaker
vsagitator
  • Offensive
69 4.1

A person who causes problems for other people on purpose

focuses on stirring public feeling for systemic change rather than causing private problems
provocateur
vsagitator
14 8.8

A person who on purpose causes trouble or makes others do wrong

uses stirring public feeling toward change rather than provoking merely for reaction
instigator
vsagitator
12 6.8

A person who starts trouble or urges others to act

aims more at shifting public feeling for social or political change than merely starting conflict
firebrand
vsagitator
  • Formal
10 7.9

A person who tries to make others protest or cause trouble

seeks to change public opinion for social or political aims rather than just provoke
rabble-rouser
vsagitator
  • Literature
6 8.5

A person who makes a crowd angry or excited about politics

aims to stir public feeling for political or social change rather than only inciting crowds
disturber
vsagitator
2 6.5

A person who interrupts people by making noise or causing trouble

targets public feeling for political or social change rather than general disturbance
provoker
vsagitator
1 7.5

A person who starts trouble on purpose to make others react

emphasizes mobilizing public feeling for social or political aims rather than general provocation
stirrer
vsagitator
  • Offensive
1 7.3

A person who spreads gossip to start arguments

works by stirring broader public feeling for change rather than private rumor spreading
inducer
vsagitator
1 8.1

A person who persuades others to do something or accept an idea

acts more broadly to inflame public feeling for social or political change rather than individual persuasion
mobilizer
vsagitator
  • US
1 5.8

A person who encourages and organizes people to take action for a cause

stirs public feeling specifically for political or social change rather than only organizing action
fomenter
vsagitator
  • Formal
9.8

A person who causes political trouble by encouraging others to act against the government

focuses on stirring public feeling for change rather than only causing unrest
instigant
vsagitator
9.9

A person who on purpose makes others start trouble or fight

targets public feeling for political or social change rather than personal conflict alone
inflamer
vsagitator
8.9

A person who says things that make people angry or start fights

aims to change public opinion for a cause rather than only creating controversy
galvanizer
vsagitator
7.8

A person who makes others want to act and change things

focuses more on provoking public feeling for political or social change rather than pure motivation
vociferator
vsagitator
  • Formal
9.9

A person who shouts loudly to protest or attract attention

uses public stirring for political or social change rather than only loud protest
troubler
vsagitator
7.4

A person who causes problems by starting arguments or fights

aims at mobilizing public feeling for political or social goals rather than mere disturbance
drama monger
vsagitator
  • Offensive
8.9

A person who makes small problems into big arguments

works to change public feeling for political or social aims rather than personal drama

Antonyms

45 4.0

A person who helps two people or groups reach an agreement without taking sides

23 3.7

A person who helps end arguments and makes people agree

How Agitating

firebrand
  • Formal
10 7.9
demagogue
19 9.3
rabble-rouser
  • Literature
6 8.5
agitator
16 6.5
instigator
12 6.8
troublemaker
  • Offensive
69 4.1

Surface Forms

agitator singular
agitators plural

Morphology

agitator = agitate (transparent) = agitate + or

The noun is a straightforward agentive formation from the verb 'agitate' with the productive suffix '-or', meaning 'one who agitates'.

Etymology

Agitator comes from the Latin word agere, which means 'to do' or 'to drive', and from agitate, which means 'to shake or stir'. So an agitator is like someone who 'stirs up' people or feelings to make them take action.