Agitate

To agitate means to stir up, disturb, or excite someone or something. It can involve physical movement, such as shaking or stirring, or a mental or emotional disturbance. It can also refer to causing public unrest or campaigning for a particular cause. The word implies a disruption of a state of calm or stability, often with a focus on causing action or change. Agitation can manifest in various ways, from mild annoyance to intense anger or fervor. It suggests an intervention that provokes a reaction, either internally or externally, in the target of the action. The degree of agitation can range significantly, affecting the severity of the results. It is a very dynamic and potent verb.

Agitate meaning with examples

• The sudden loud noise from the construction site started to agitate the dogs, causing them to bark incessantly and jump at the windows. They found it hard to settle down with all the disruption. It proved to be incredibly annoying, and made it very difficult to have peace and quiet within the house.
• The constant pressure from his boss began to agitate him, leading to sleepless nights and increased anxiety about work. The more work he put in the worse he felt. It came to a head when he could no longer function. He knew he needed to have a word.
• During the political rally, the speaker's inflammatory speech sought to agitate the crowd, encouraging them to take action against the government's new policies. The people felt the passion in his words, and decided to go to the source. Everyone wanted their voices to be heard.
• The strong wind **agitated** the surface of the lake, creating choppy waves and making it unsafe for boating. The water began to look dark and dangerous, as if it was alive. No one wanted to risk being there while the weather was like that.
• Scientists used a special device to agitate the mixture, ensuring the ingredients were thoroughly combined for the experiment. It was critical that this was carried out correctly for the experiment to yield proper results. This device ensured that nothing was missed.