agitate > define

verb

• Try to stir up public opinion.
  • synonyms: foment, stir up
• Cause to be agitated, excited, or roused.
  • usage: "The speaker charged up the crowd with his inflammatory remarks"
  • synonyms: rouse, turn on, charge, commove, excite, charge up
• Exert oneself continuously, vigorously, or obtrusively to gain an end or engage in a crusade for a certain cause or person; be an advocate for.
  • usage: "The liberal party pushed for reforms"; "She is crusading for women's rights"; "The Dean is pushing for his favorite candidate"
  • synonyms: crusade, fight, press, campaign, push
• Move very slightly.
  • usage: "He shifted in his seat"
  • synonyms: stir, shift, budge
• Move or cause to move back and forth.
  • usage: "The chemist shook the flask vigorously"; "My hands were shaking"
  • synonyms: shake
• Change the arrangement or position of.
  • synonyms: vex, disturb, commove, shake up, stir up, raise up

• (v.t.) To move or actuate.
• (v.t.) To revolve in the mind or view in all its aspects; to contrive busily; to devise; to plot; as, politicians agitate desperate designs.
• (v.t.) To stir up; to disturb or excite; to perturb; as, he was greatly agitated.
• (v.t.) To discuss with great earnestness; to debate; as, a controversy hotly agitated.
• (v.t.) To move with a violent, irregular action; as, the wind agitates the sea; to agitate water in a vessel.