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

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

The 16 July incident quickly went viral, triggering more students to jump into the agitation against reservations in civil service jobs for the family members of the veterans of the country’s independence war in 1971.

From BBC

The current agitation has its roots in a proposal from Mr. Macron that would add thousands of French migrants to New Caledonia’s electoral rolls.

From New York Times

Ms. Sheinbaum’s parents were both leftists and involved in the sciences, and she was raised in a secular household in Mexico City in the 1960s and 70s, a time of considerable political agitation in Mexico.

From New York Times

Related Words

• disturbance
• turbulence
• turmoil
• unrest
• upheaval

More About Agitation

What does agitation mean?

Agitation is the state or feeling of being agitated—anxious, bothered, or worried, as in There is a lot of agitation among the employees who have not yet been paid. 

It also commonly refers to the act or process of agitating—shaking up, stirring up, or causing something to move around roughly, as in The agitation of the water by strong winds has caused it to become very choppy. 

The verb agitate is also used in a more specific way to mean to attempt to promote support or opposition for a political or social cause, especially by repeatedly raising the issue and bringing awareness to it. The act of doing this can be called agitation, and a person who does this can be called an agitator.

Example: You could hear Mom’s agitation growing with each additional time she asked Tim to take out the garbage.

Where does agitation come from?

The first records of the word agitation come from around the mid-1500s. It ultimately comes from the Latin verb agitāre, meaning “to set in motion.” The suffix -ion indicates an action or condition.

In most of its senses, agitation involves stirring things up or setting things in motion in a way that’s a bit messy or turbulent. The feeling of agitation involves your emotions being stirred up by something that’s frustrating, annoying, or stressful. The agitation of physical things usually involves them being literally stirred up, such as the ocean being stirred up by storm. Agitation in a political context involves stirring things up to make a change, especially in a way that’s a little controversial.

In psychology, psychomotor agitation is a symptom of some psychological disorders that involves physical restlessness, including things like pacing and handwringing.

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to agitation?

• agitational (adjective)
• overagitation (noun)
• agitate (verb)

What are some synonyms for agitation?

• tension
• anxiousness
• disquiet
• perturbation
• turmoil
• turbulence
• disturbance
• unrest

What are some words that share a root or word element with agitation? 

• agitated
• agitator

What are some words that often get used in discussing agitation?

 

• stir up
• shake up
• feeling
• stress
• public
• political
• social
• psychomotor

How is agitation used in real life?

When it involves feelings of anxiousness, agitation is typically used in negative situations. When it refers to political activity, agitation usually implies that there is controversy or contentiousness involved.

I don't care how tiny the argument is, if you say "whatever" to me then I instantly reach a whole new level of agitation.

— Marie Gaumont (@MarieGaumont) April 1, 2013

Authenticity isn't just about the ability to express anger and agitation. It's also about the willingness to accept agency and accountability. If you're only doing the former, you're not keeping it 100%. You're mailing it in at 50%

— T.K. Coleman (@TK_Coleman) December 9, 2018

thinking about my Sicilian great-great grandfather Vincenzo who tried and failed to do pro-independence "bring back the Kingdom of the 2 Sicilies" political agitation in the 1880s before being unceremoniously exiled to the United States

— ghost denier (@coronarycommie) July 29, 2020

 

Try using agitation!

Which of the following words is NOT a synonym of agitation?

A. disturbance
B. turbulence
C. unrest
D. peace