agitate

Meaning

Verb

• To disturb or excite; to perturb or stir up (a person).
• To cause to move with a violent, irregular action; to shake.
• To set in motion; to actuate.
• To discuss or debate.
• To revolve in the mind, or view in all its aspects; to consider, to devise.

Related

Similar words

• discuss, debate, canvass
• move, shake, excite, rouse, disturb, distract, revolve

Opposite words

• appease, calm, quieten

Origin

• From Middle English, from Latin agitatus, past participle of agitare, from agere. Compare with French agiter. See act, agent.