agitate
/ˈæ.dʒɪ.teɪt/
Group 28Difficulty 1/3
Definition
- (verb)
- To make someone troubled or nervous; to campaign to arouse public concern about an issue GRE
Example in Context
Workers began to agitate for better conditions after a series of preventable accidents exposed alarming gaps in safety protocols.
Synonyms
stir updisturbrile
Etymology
To stir up emotions or concerns actively.
- ag- (Latin) — to do
- itare (Latin) — to stir
Memory Aid
🕺Sounds like “a jig-a-tate”
Imagine someone doing a JIG while shaking a can of soda — they AGITATE it so much, it EXPLODES!
Visual Association
🚨A crowd rushing around in a panic after a soda explosion at a party.
Semantic Clusters
Synonym Groups
Frequently Asked Questions
What does “agitate” mean on the GRE?
agitate (verb) means “To make someone troubled or nervous; to campaign to arouse public concern about an issue”. Workers began to agitate for better conditions after a series of preventable accidents exposed alarming gaps in safety protocols.
How to remember “agitate” for the GRE?
Mnemonic: “agitate” sounds like “a jig-a-tate”. Imagine someone doing a JIG while shaking a can of soda — they AGITATE it so much, it EXPLODES!
What are synonyms for “agitate”?
Common synonyms: stir up, disturb, rile.