AGITATOR Synonyms: 47 Similar and Opposite Words

agitator

noun

ˈa-jə-ˌtā-tər

Definition of agitator

as in rebel

a person who stirs up public feelings especially of discontent a political agitator who led an unsuccessful revolt against the government

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of agitator The incident came as agitators against immigration adopt a confrontational new tactic of trying to stop the boats landing on England’s shores, clashing with police and rescue workers in the process. — Jill Lawless, Los Angeles Times, 24 Sep. 2026 Among the agitators were the workers at Sytin’s Moscow publishing house. — James Folta, Literary Hub, 10 Sep. 2026 In Portsmouth, a group of far-right agitators first attempted to stop lifeboats from bringing the migrants onshore before seeking to block buses from taking the asylum seekers to a processing facility. — Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 10 Sep. 2026 Connor Clattenburg is a throwback player who can play agitator and enforcer and chip in with goals. — Allan Mitchell, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for agitator

Recent Examples of Synonyms for agitator

Noun

The war next door United Nations experts have documented Rwandan military support for M23 rebels, which have seized territory in eastern DRC.

— Nimi Princewill, CNN Money, 22 Oct. 2026
But the rebels also have an array of relatively cheap drones, including weapons supplied by Iran, and locally made copies of Iranian attack drones.

— Frank Andrews, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of rebel

Noun

Continue reading … DIRTY POLITICS — Antifa supporter charged with stealing GOP campaign signs in NY race to replace Stefanik.

— , FOXNews.com, 23 Oct. 2026
Ahead of Frost’s Monday sentencing after his guilty plea to wire fraud, a flood of family members and supporters submitted about 80 letters to the court in a bid for leniency.

— Kelly Yamanouchi, AJC.com, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of supporter

Noun

Unsheltered intertwined two plots related to the precarity of American life and the danger of demagogues—one set at the dawn of the MAGA era.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 8 Oct. 2026
Unsheltered intertwined two plots related to the precarity of American life and the danger of demagogues — one set at the dawn of the MAGA era.

— Sam Worley, Vulture, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of demagogue

Noun

The ultra-nationalist party is led by Itamar Ben-Gvir, a far-right firebrand once deemed too extreme to serve in Israel’s military.

— Eric Cortellessa, Time, 22 Oct. 2026
Cruz, a conservative firebrand, is trying to rally the party’s base in a year where Republicans fear many of their voters will stay home.

— Matthew Choi, Washington Post, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of firebrand

Noun

The list is based on data provided to the trade publication Pollstar by concert promoters and venue managers.

— ABC News, ABC News, 23 Oct. 2026
Why concert tickets keep getting more expensive Artists, promoters, venues, and ticketing platforms all take a cut of each ticket.

— James LaForge, Fortune, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of promoter

Noun

One of the leading proponents of an energy-centric view of disease is Martin Picard, a biologist who directs the Mitochondrial Psychobiology Group at Columbia University.

— Rowan Jacobsen, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
The No campaign accused measure proponents of misusing the state office.

— Andrew Graham, Sacbee.com, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of proponent

Noun

Feigenbaum offered a more cautious interpretation, describing some of the violent perpetrators as fringe provocateurs who exploit broader demonstrations without necessarily directing them.

— Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 10 Oct. 2026
Mungiu’s prickly, nonjudgmental studies of human behavior have sometimes led him to be branded as a provocateur.

— Tim Grierson, Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of provocateur

Noun

Khalilzad on Friday wrote on X that there had been reports of Pakistan arming Afghans to fight the Taliban inside Afghanistan and of the Pakistani military recruiting Afghans to fight anti-Pakistan insurgents.

— ABC News, ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026
President Emmanuel Macron has been the primary target of scorn following nationwide riots that overtook Paris and other cities, but the insurgent National Rally does not want to let mainstream conservatives off the hook.

— Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of insurgent

Browse Nearby Words

agitational

agitator

agitators

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“Agitator.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/agitator. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of agitator

noun

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