An agitator for a clothes washing machine including a center post extending into the clothes receiving receptacle and upon which is mounted a vertically reciprocable agitator member including an agitator element extending radially outward from the center post. The agitator element is mounted on a nut member which mates with a thread formed on the center post, such that upon relative rotation between the agitator element and the center post, vertical reciprocation of the agitator element takes place to induce turnover motion of the clothes. The center post is oscillated to cause the reciprocation by engagement of the agitator element with clothes disposed in the machine during the wash cycle. The agitator element is configured with a downwardly extending flared skirt portion having scalloped edges to increase the interengagement with the clothes. The flared shape of the agitator element causes a net downward force on the clothes drawing them downwardly along the center post. The agitator in one version also includes radial vanes located on an agitator bell portion integral with the center post or, alternatively, a plurality of agitator skirt elements are provided without the provision of the agitator radial vanes. The agitator skirt elements may also be perforated to produce a water surging action.