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

She might be young for a parliamentarian at 31, but she is no naïve agitator.

From The Daily Beast

As an agitator of stereotypes, how did you feel about The Birth of a Nation?

From The Daily Beast

When they meet again, Kramer is a union agitator preparing for a massive general strike that will be the story's dramatic apex.

From The Daily Beast

Barack Hussein Obama” is nothing more than a “low-level socialist agitator.

From The Daily Beast

Her role in general, though, has shifted from “outside agitator to inside agitator opponent,” she jokes.

From The Daily Beast

One of the principal grounds in this change is to be found in the connection of government with the agitator O'Connell.

From Project Gutenberg

The distinction of these classes was marked out by money-payments; for it was the "rent" to which the agitator was mainly looking.

From Project Gutenberg

It is probable that the bill would have been lost without the support of the Irish liberals, led by the agitator.

From Project Gutenberg

There he became not only a rhetorician, a revolutionary agitator, but a really great painter.

From Project Gutenberg

But Cobden's parliamentary work was at this time less important than his work as an agitator.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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