# agitator

/ˈædʒəˌteɪtɝ/ (US) · /ˈædʒɪtˌeɪtɐ/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/agitator
Updated: 2026-10-19

## Definition

a person who tries to make other people angry or excited so they will protest or take action. You use it for someone who stirs up strong feelings about politics or change.

For teachers: a person who provokes political or social unrest in order to promote change, typically through speeches, protests, or organising.

## Examples

- The agitator urges the crowd to march to city hall.
- Police arrested the agitator after he encouraged factory workers to block the main road during the strike.
- Historians still debate whether he was a visionary reformer or merely an agitator who exploited popular anger for personal influence.

## Synonyms

instigator, troublemaker, firebrand

## Antonyms

peacemaker

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.