agitator

[ aj-i-tey-ter ]

noun

1. a person who stirs up others in order to upset the status quo and further a political, social, or other cause:

   The boss said he would fire any union agitators.

2. a machine or device for agitating and mixing.

agitator

/ ˈædʒɪˌteɪtə /

noun

1. a person who agitates for or against a cause, etc
2. a device, machine, or part used for mixing, shaking, or vibrating a material, usually a fluid

Other Words From

• ag·i·ta·to·ri·al [aj-i-t, uh, -, tawr, -ee-, uh, l, -, tohr, -], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of agitator¹

First recorded in 1730–40; agitate + -or ²

Example Sentences

Kennedy is an overt anti-vaccination agitator, among his many other pet pseudoscientific positions.

From Los Angeles Times

Concrete trucks routinely queued up on nearby streets before departing right on La Brea Avenue with their agitator drums turning.

From Los Angeles Times

A longtime Republican political agitator recruited two other Bob Fergusons to file for governor last week, apparently to draw votes from, well, Bob Ferguson, the state’s attorney general of 12 years.

From Seattle Times

What do we know about this "outside agitator" narrative?

From Salon

“Never again can we afford to live with the narrow, provincial ‘outside agitator’ idea.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• anarchist
• demagogue
• firebrand
• malcontent
• propagandist
• protestor
• radical
• troublemaker
• zealot