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agitate
/ˈædʒɪteɪt/
make someone anxious or upset
The news about the layoffs agitated the entire staff.
The staff felt anxious and upset after hearing about the layoffs.
general
To make someone feel anxious, nervous, or disturbed.
The loud noise from the construction site agitated the neighbors.
The neighbors felt disturbed by the loud construction noise.
She was agitated by the thought of public speaking.
The idea of speaking in public made her feel nervous.
Often implies a reaction to an external stimulus causing emotional unrest.
formal
To campaign or take political action to achieve social or political change.
The group agitated for better working conditions through protests and petitions.
The group campaigned actively for improved labor rights using public demonstrations and written requests.
Common in historical or political contexts, often involving organized efforts.
Engineering
technical
To stir or disturb a liquid or mixture physically.
The chemist agitated the solution to ensure even distribution of the reactants.
The chemist stirred the solution continuously to mix the chemicals thoroughly.
Used in scientific or industrial processes requiring uniform mixing.
Collocations
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Distinguish between emotional and political uses
Use 'agitate' for emotions when describing anxiety or distress. For political action, it implies organized efforts like protests or petitions.
Gold Rule
Avoid overusing 'agitate' for mild emotions
For slight nervousness, consider 'bother' or 'worry' instead of 'agitate'. 'Agitate' suggests stronger emotional disturbance.
Word Origin
From Latin *agitatus*, past participle of *agitare* (to shake, drive, or excite), frequentative of *agere* (to do, act). First recorded in English in the mid-16th century.
Usage Notes
Commonly used in emotional contexts to describe a state of unease. In political contexts, it implies organized activism rather than spontaneous reaction.
Word Breakdown
agit-
to do, act, or drive
root-ate
verb-forming suffix
suffixEnglish Dictionary