1
as in frenzy
a state of wildly excited activity or emotion
knew immediately, from the horses' agitation, that something terrible was happening
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in anxiety
an uneasy state of mind usually over the possibility of an anticipated misfortune or trouble
experienced a great deal of agitation over whether she had an appropriate dress for her husband's inauguration
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of agitation
Marcos briefly suspended habeas corpus and blamed his sclerotic economy on the agitations of leftist rebels, students, journalists, and preachers.
—
Sean Williams, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
Gentle simmering and minimal agitation help preserve their structure.
—Anne Wolf, Martha Stewart, 27 Jan. 2026
Her union organizing and political agitation didn’t help get her past gatekeepers either.
—Chadd Scott, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026
There is an appetite on the player’s part for the move, but no agitation.
—James McNicholas, New York Times, 13 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for agitation
Sean Williams, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
Gentle simmering and minimal agitation help preserve their structure.
—Anne Wolf, Martha Stewart, 27 Jan. 2026
Her union organizing and political agitation didn’t help get her past gatekeepers either.
—Chadd Scott, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026
There is an appetite on the player’s part for the move, but no agitation.
—James McNicholas, New York Times, 13 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for agitation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for agitation
Noun
-
Among the frenzy of videos promoting healthier diets, marathon running, and sobriety, one trend catching on with young people—ironically on social media—is the idea of a digital detox, taking time away from our phone’s most addictive apps to improve everything from sleep to focus.—
Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez,
Fortune,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Then a frenzy as all the players rifled through their music.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Our cousins just over the border in Wisconsin kept up a steady stream of taunts, trash-talking the Bears and causing us all a lot of anxiety as the minutes ticked by.—
Erendira Rendon,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Feb. 2026
-
Experts say exercise during pregnancy and after birth can help lower anxiety, improve sleep, and boost your mood.—
Hannah Silverman,
Parents,
8 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Nicole Connors, 52; Raleigh police officer Gabriel Torres, 29; Mary Marshall, 34; and Susan Karnatz, 49, also were killed in the rampage.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
14 Feb. 2026
-
Austin Thompson, the North Carolina teenager convicted of killing his brother and four neighbors in a 2022 rampage, was sentenced on Friday to life in prison without the possibility of parole.—
Minyvonne Burke,
NBC news,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The killings of Good and Pretti sparked further fear and backlash.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Twelve years after an NFL game was first shown on television in a period of fear of war and triumph in war, the championship game itself was broadcast across the country for the first time.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
8 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Marinho and other partygoers waved white ribbons and sang a song in a tribute to Orelha, a dog that was killed in southern Brazil in January in a case that caused national rage.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
14 Feb. 2026
-
Those skipping romance this season can name an ex after a pile of animal feces, shred old photos for dining deals or smash their way through staged date nights in rage rooms.—
Julian Torres,
CNN Money,
14 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Melissa Michelson, a political science professor at Menlo College, said the donor list signals concern among wealthy Californians about potential tax increases.—
Grace Hase,
Mercury News,
12 Feb. 2026
-
These activities, conducted outside normal flight paths near El Paso International Airport, caused FAA concern about possible interference with civilian flights.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
12 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The social media giant's guidance offset worries about its sky-high spending on artificial intelligence.—
,
CNBC,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Keogh said that access is a security worry because people in the indictment include citizens of communist China, an American rival.—
Steve Patterson,
Florida Times-Union,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The score hums and pulses with modern unease, making the film feel like a fever dream that happens to borrow Brontë’s names.—
Ana Gutierrez,
Austin American Statesman,
11 Feb. 2026
-
The Nancy Guthrie case highlights mounting unease over how much control Nest‑ and Ring‑style devices give both tech companies and law enforcement over intimate footage from people’s homes.—
Ashley Lutz,
Fortune,
11 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Agitation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/agitation. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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