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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of agitation
Too often, those emotions are anger and agitation.
—
Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 27 Mar. 2026
Differing opinions may spark agitation today.
—Usa Today, USA Today, 24 Mar. 2026
Sarma worked closely with leaders of the agitation, including Prafulla Mahanta and Bhrigu Phukan, who both went on to form the Assam People’s Council (Asom Gana Parishad) political party.
—Shabnam Dohutia, Encyclopedia Britannica, 21 Mar. 2026
Plus, the movie is simply too goofy and good-natured for any of its feminist agitation to land.
—Peter Tonguette, The Washington Examiner, 13 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for agitation
Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 27 Mar. 2026
Differing opinions may spark agitation today.
—Usa Today, USA Today, 24 Mar. 2026
Sarma worked closely with leaders of the agitation, including Prafulla Mahanta and Bhrigu Phukan, who both went on to form the Assam People’s Council (Asom Gana Parishad) political party.
—Shabnam Dohutia, Encyclopedia Britannica, 21 Mar. 2026
Plus, the movie is simply too goofy and good-natured for any of its feminist agitation to land.
—Peter Tonguette, The Washington Examiner, 13 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for agitation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for agitation
Noun
-
The housing market has cooled considerably since earlier this decade, when rock-bottom mortgage rates set off a frenzy that sent home prices soaring.—
Alex Veiga,
Fortune,
4 Apr. 2026
-
One of the unspoken truths about the Tortuga Music Festival is that while its country-music firepower is undeniable, some of its best moments have come in the frenzy of fans who pack stages for party-rap performers such as Flo Rida, Nelly, Wiz Khalifa, Snoop Dogg and Ludacris.—
Ben Crandell,
Sun Sentinel,
4 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Amid record anxiety about the future of work—and growing warnings about the potential erosion of white-collar careers—one unlikely field may be getting the last laugh.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
5 Apr. 2026
-
Drone use is heavily limited by battery anxiety, but without a battery the use cases really open up.—
Omar Kardoudi
April 05,
New Atlas,
5 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
His shot missed, deflecting glass onto Long Khac Nguyen’s face and setting him off on an immediate rampage, shooting several hostages, three fatally.—
Graham Womack,
Sacbee.com,
4 Apr. 2026
-
Auriemma, at age 41 and in his 10th season at UConn, led a team headlined by All-Americans Rebecca Lobo, Jennifer Rizzotti and Kara Wolters on a 35-0 rampage to secure the first undefeated season and national championship in UConn history.—
Devon Henderson,
New York Times,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Her work plainly belongs to this lineage of witchy writers, women whose deliciously corrupted scenes of home and hearth produce fear and wild laughter at once.—
Kristen Roupenian,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
-
This new strategy recognized that neighborhood fear is not just driven by crimes; it is also driven by neighborhood disorder.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Infiniti lets us in on Agnes’ mounting disillusionment in small doses hinting at pain and, possibly, rage (add Carrie to the underdeveloped influences).—
Daniel Fienberg,
HollywoodReporter,
2 Apr. 2026
-
There is hope in words that can reframe our perspectives, entertain and offer humor, or commiserate in our rage or grief.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Even before the Iran war sent gas prices soaring, many Americans were still recovering from the pandemic-era inflation spike and continued to cite affordability as a major concern.—
Aimee Picchi,
CBS News,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Another Antarctic species -- the Southern elephant seal -- is also now at risk of extinction due to bird flu, moving from least concern to vulnerable, according to researchers.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
9 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Some of Bondi's allies believe that the lack of prosecutions is attributable to Blanche, who has not pushed them too hard amid political concerns and worries about his future after his Justice Department career.—
Sarah N. Lynch,
CBS News,
2 Apr. 2026
-
The electric carmaker last week reported its first decline in annual profit since 2022, but worries over rising gasoline prices has boosted its business.—
Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson,
semafor.com,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
But that same inspiration has sometimes drawn questions — and unease — from potential buyers.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
3 Apr. 2026
-
But in the shadows, amid growing unease at the bloodthirsty actions of the realm’s merciless Mad King, dissenters from his inner circle anxiously advance a treasonous plot.—
Ryan Brennan
April 3,
Charlotte Observer,
3 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Agitation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/agitation. Accessed 9 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
