Definition

1. Noun:
   • One who agitates; a political troublemaker: An individual who actively stirs up public feeling, especially to promote political change or social unrest. This often implies a deliberate attempt to provoke or incite others.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • The government arrested the known agitator for inciting violence at the protest.
  • He was seen as a dangerous agitator who sought to overthrow the established order.
  • Throughout history, many reformers were first labeled as agitators by those in power.

Advanced Usage

• "Agent provocateur": A specific type of agitator, often a secret agent, who infiltrates a group to incite its members to commit illegal acts so they can be discredited or arrested.
  • The police suspected the new member was an agent provocateur sent to disrupt the peaceful movement.

Variants and Related Words

• Agitate (verb): To stir up public feeling or to campaign for a cause.
  • The group continues to agitate for prison reform.
• Agitation (noun): A state of anxiety or nervous excitement; or the act of stirring up public concern for political or social change.
  • The news caused great agitation among the citizens.

Synonyms

• Instigator: One who initiates or urges an action, often a negative one.
• Rabble-rouser: A person who stirs up the passions or prejudices of the public, especially for political reasons.
• Firebrand: A person who is passionate about a particular cause, typically inciting change and trouble.

Related Phrases

• Political agitator: A more specific term emphasizing the political nature of the agitation.
  • The pamphlet was written by a notorious political agitator.

Noun

1. one who agitates; a political troublemaker