Agitate vs. Disturb — What's the Difference?

To cause to move with violence or sudden force.

Interfere with the normal arrangement or functioning of

To upset; disturb

Interrupt the sleep, relaxation, or privacy of

To arouse interest in (a cause, for example) by use of the written or spoken word; discuss or debate.

Make (someone) anxious

To stir up public interest in a cause

To break up or destroy the tranquility, order, or settled state of

(transitive) To disturb or excite; to perturb or stir up (a person).

To trouble emotionally or mentally; upset

(transitive) To cause to move with a violent, irregular action; to shake.

To interfere with; interrupt

To set in motion; to actuate.

To intrude on; inconvenience

To discuss or debate.

(Physics) To alter or displace (one or more properties of a physical system) away from its equilibrium state.

To revolve in the mind, or view in all its aspects; to consider, to devise.

(transitive) to confuse a quiet, constant state or a calm, continuous flow, in particular: thoughts, actions or liquids.

To move with a violent, irregular action; as, the wind agitates the sea; to agitate water in a vessel.

(transitive) to divert, redirect, or alter by disturbing.

To move or actuate.

(intransitive) to have a negative emotional impact; to cause emotional distress or confusion.

To stir up; to disturb or excite; to perturb; as, he was greatly agitated.

(obsolete) disturbance

To discuss with great earnestness; to debate; as, a controversy hotly agitated.

To throw into disorder or confusion; to derange; to interrupt the settled state of; to excite from a state of rest.

To revolve in the mind, or view in all its aspects; to contrive busily; to devise; to plot; as, politicians agitate desperate designs.

To agitate the mind of; to deprive of tranquillity; to disquiet; to render uneasy; as, a person is disturbed by receiving an insult, or his mind is disturbed by envy.

Try to stir up public opinion

To turn from a regular or designed course.

Cause to be agitated, excited, or roused;

Disturbance.

Exert oneself continuously, vigorously, or obtrusively to gain an end or engage in a crusade for a certain cause or person; be an advocate for;

Move deeply;

Move very slightly;

Change the arrangement or position of

Move or cause to move back and forth;

Tamper with;

Change the arrangement or position of

Destroy the peace or tranquility of;

Damage as if by shaking or jarring;