How to Use agitate in a Sentence

agitate

verb
  • Some members of the union have been agitating for a strike.
  • If I talk about the problem with him it just agitates him even more.
  • The mixture is heated and then agitated.
  • A few local residents have been agitating against a military presence.
  • This agitates me and my lead foot.
    — Matt Fuchs, Time, 20 Jan. 2026
  • But then what does that agitate?
    — Angelique Jackson, Variety, 10 Mar. 2026
  • Stay away from the area for a day or so as the treatment will agitate them.
    — Tim Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 24 Sep. 2022
  • My wife came home to find the dog agitated and the smoke alarm in pieces on the floor.
    — Southern Living, 11 Feb. 2013
  • My wife came home to find the dog agitated and the smoke alarm in pieces on the floor.
    — Rick Bragg, Southern Living, 11 July 2017
  • The shift has agitated some in a sport that is often slow to change.
    — Nick Corasaniti, New York Times, 10 Sep. 2019
  • Allow room for your items to move freely and to be agitated.
    — Kathy Barnes, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 June 2026
  • Then an adult male arrived that had the hair up on his neck like he was agitated.
    — Outdoor Life, 26 July 2023
  • But don’t bolt or scream, as these actions can startle or agitate a bear.
    — Laken Brooks, Forbes, 3 Oct. 2021
  • The south has long been readier than the north to agitate against the strictures of caste.
    — The Economist, 21 June 2019
  • Use your clean hands to gently agitate the berries to ensure all pieces and sides are washed.
    — Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Oct. 2024
  • Use your hands to agitate the soapy water through the garment.
    — Caroline Lubinsky, Martha Stewart, 6 Feb. 2026
  • Dunk and agitate the pack, squeezing the straps and back panel foam again to get the soap out.
    — Joe Lindsey, Outside Online, 17 July 2021
  • If moving away appears to agitate the bear, stop.
    — ABC News, 28 May 2026
  • As the sun agitates the moon, both options appeal.
    — Usa Today, USA Today, 5 Jan. 2026
  • Immerse the item in the clear water and gently agitate it with clean hands to rinse.
    — Taryn Mohrman, Good Housekeeping, 12 Oct. 2022
  • Submerge the tent in the water and gently agitate it with your hands to loosen dirt and grime.
    — Nafeesah Allen, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 July 2024
  • Add the grapes to the bowl, and use your fingers to carefully agitate and scrub the skins.
    — Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 Jan. 2026
  • Using your hands, gently agitate the pieces around to ensure each piece is able to be rinsed.
    — Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 July 2024
  • The nearness of bees, and of other things that agitate most people, calms me.
    — Rivka Galchen, New Yorker, 21 Sep. 2025
  • Using your hands, gently agitate the water and soap with the silk.
    — Shivani Vyas, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Nov. 2021
  • Use your hands to agitate the greens (this will dislodge any stubborn bits of grit or dirt), then drain and spin dry.
    — Riley Wofford, Martha Stewart, 5 Mar. 2026
  • There's also a loophole to the six-month rule that's agitating some campers.
    — Tanya Wildt, Detroit Free Press, 21 Apr. 2023
  • This makes two of the world’s top activist investors agitating for change.
    — Stephen Wilmot, WSJ, 28 May 2018
  • But then things got weird when Flea said the woman stuck her ski pole in his face, which agitated him.
    — Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 7 Aug. 2024
  • Immerse your berries in the water and gently agitate them.
    — Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, 7 June 2026

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'agitate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Last Updated: