agitation

[ aj-i-tey-shuhn ]

noun

1. the act or process of agitating; state of being agitated: agitated:

   She left in great agitation.

   Synonyms: ado, perturbation, conflict, struggle, disquiet, unrest, storm, tumult

2. persistent urging of a political or social cause or theory before the public.

   Synonyms: argument, discussion, debate

3. Also called psy·cho·mo·tor ag·i·ta·tion [sahy, -koh-moh-ter aj-i-, tey, -sh, uh, n]. psychological and physical restlessness, manifested by pacing, hand-wringing, or other activity, sometimes occurring as a symptom of severe depression, schizophrenia, or other mental disorder.

agitation

/ ˌædʒɪˈteɪʃən /

noun

1. a state of excitement, disturbance, or worry
2. the act of moving something vigorously; the shaking or stirring of something
3. the act of attempting to stir up public opinion for or against something

Derived Forms

• ˌagiˈtational, adjective

Other Words From

• ag·i·ta·tion·al adjective
• o·ver·ag·i·ta·tion noun
• pre·ag·i·ta·tion noun
• pro·ag·i·ta·tion adjective
• re·ag·i·ta·tion noun
• su·per·ag·i·ta·tion noun
• un·der·ag·i·ta·tion noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of agitation¹

First recorded in 1560–70; from Latin agitātiōn-, stem of agitātiō; equivalent to agitate + -ion

Synonym Study

Agitation, disturbance, excitement, turmoil imply inner unrest, uneasiness, or apprehension. Agitation implies a shaken state of emotions, usually perceptible in the face or movements: With evident agitation she opened the telegram. Disturbance implies an inner disquiet caused by worry, indecision, apprehension, or the like: Long-continued mental disturbance is a cause of illness. Excitement implies a highly emotional state caused by either agreeable or distressing circumstances: excitement over a proposed trip, unexpected good news, a fire. Turmoil suggests such a struggle or conflict of emotions that one is unable to think consecutively: Her thoughts were in a hopeless turmoil.

Example Sentences

In the article, campaign sources explain that Trump's newfound discipline unraveled as he succumbed to agitation over his campaign's cautious approach, advice from impatient allies like Corey Lewandowski and the aggravating itch of his natural impulses.

From Salon

New legislation came in an attempt to stop this “agitation.”

From Salon

Not long after Amazon officials got wind of the agitation, the retail giant canceled its contract with the company, forcing it to close and putting Singh and the others out of work.

From Los Angeles Times

"His agitation of stopping and starting the conversation was based on asking for Diet Cokes several times, or stopping to take a sip and then starting again, immediately stopping and taking another sip and then starting again, reading some of the scroll, and then asking for a new Coca-Cola, or needing a towel to wipe his head or something," she explained.

From Salon

And so, at a time when anxiety arises from every direction, voters’ response to candidates is based primarily on policy ideas rather than on their ability to be reassuring, to soothe the feeling of agitation that arises from so much real worry, and to increasingly help them deny the reality of their suffering.

From Slate

Related Words

• disturbance
• turbulence
• turmoil
• unrest
• upheaval