agitate

You’re not going to get what you want in life unless you advocate — agitate — for it.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 24, 2026

They are notorious goons, despised virtually everywhere for their ability to agitate, aggrieve and annoy.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 14, 2026

Lai previously told visitors there would be "no surprises" in his national day address, in a bid to reassure them that he would not do anything further to agitate Beijing.

From BBC ● Oct. 9, 2024

It appeared to agitate Cannon, who questioned the prosecution about why it was being brought up for the first time at the hearing.

From Salon ● Oct. 13, 2023

And when demigods use cell phones, the signals agitate every monster within a hundred miles.

From "The Last Olympian" by Rick Riordan

And this is kind of a shame, because the story agitates the brain far more than it does the stomach.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 9, 2025

Conversely, when researchers injected the rats with a substance that agitates the immune system, the inflammatory cytokine levels rapidly shot up.

From Science Daily ● Dec. 5, 2024

Tinseltown, it seems, is in the midst of an AI boom — even as its creative class agitates for limits on how that technology gets deployed.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 2, 2023

When you start to feel grounded in your decision not to engage, you might find it interesting to get to know your mom a little better — and to figure out what agitates her so.

From Washington Post ● Nov. 23, 2022

“The sight of a wound or scar always agitates and sickens me,” she said.

From "The Awakening" by Kate Chopin

As passengers found their seats and stowed their carry-ons, I noticed an older traveler across the aisle who seemed agitated.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 11, 2026

Reyes believes the pair agitated the dog, who reacted in self-defense.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 13, 2026

We have agitated for paid parental leave, universal childcare, better public schools, child allowances, and other help for struggling parents.

From Slate ● Sep. 14, 2026

Wilby told the court he had hoped to continue their previous conversation about the constituent on the Tube, but claimed Creasy "became quite agitated" and that he was "quite shocked by her reaction".

From BBC ● Aug. 11, 2026

“It’s a common occurrence. But you are the first musician I’ve ever known to faint midsong. Miss Lulu is supremely agitated, of course. She likes for things to go a certain way, a predictable way.”

From "Louisiana's Way Home" by Kate DiCamillo

“We do not know the answer, but we have seen them take this approach in other situations when agitating for change,” Moskow said.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 28, 2026

His agitating and manipulation, which he would later concede was primarily staged, drove a wedge between Montag and the show’s star Lauren Conrad.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 18, 2026

Wilson has been agitating for a board overhaul, and The Wall Street Journal has reported that Elliott was looking to help the retailer find a new leader.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 1, 2026

Landlocked Ethiopia, home to around 130 million people and one of Africa’s strongest economies, has been agitating for sea access.

From Barron's ● Apr. 7, 2026

Her scalp tingled, as if the thoughts in her brain were agitating to get out: a statue...Athena...Greek and Roman, her nightmares, and her argument with her mom.

From "The Mark of Athena" by Rick Riordan