1. (v. t.) To move with a violent, irregular action; as, the wind agitates the sea\; to agitate water in a vessel.

2. (v. t.) To move or actuate.

3. (v. t.) To stir up; to disturb or excite; to perturb; as, he was greatly agitated.

4. (v. t.) To discuss with great earnestness; to debate; as, a controversy hotly agitated.

5. (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.

actuate afflict air argue arouse assail attack beat beat up blow the coals bother bounce broach bug burden campaign canvass churn churn up concern concuss consider convulse debate disarrange discept discombobulate discomfit discomfort discompose disconcert dispute disquiet distract distress disturb drive electrify embroil exasperate excite fan fan the flame feed the fire ferment fire flurry fluster flutter foment frazzle fret fuss give concern heat heat up impassion impel incense incite inflame instigate irritate jar joggle jolt jounce load with care moot move nettle paddle peeve perturb perturbate pique press promote provoke psych push put to it put up to rally rattle rile ripple rock roil roughen rouse ruffle rumple set on shake shake up shock sic on spook stagger stir stir the embers stir up swirl thrash out throw throw into confusion tickle trouble unhinge unnerve unsettle untune upset ventilate whet whip whip up whisk work up