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
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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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of agitation
Carlson's agitation against American involvement in Iran has irked Trump, who lashed out at him on social media.
—
Zac Anderson, USA Today, 19 June 2025
Thanks to ongoing agitation and awareness-building — especially by activist Opal Lee, now 98 years old — President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act into law on June 17, 2021.
—Harriette Cole, Mercury News, 19 June 2025
Chicago Tribune Loveland noted the fire Johnson shows, both in excitement for a big play or in agitation for a careless mistake.
—Dan Wiederer, Chicago Tribune, 12 May 2025
As the president expresses agitation toward district judges who block his policies nationwide, Trump so far has maintained more cordiality with Roberts, refusing to attack him personally.
—Zach Schonfeld, The Hill, 23 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for agitation
Zac Anderson, USA Today, 19 June 2025
Thanks to ongoing agitation and awareness-building — especially by activist Opal Lee, now 98 years old — President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act into law on June 17, 2021.
—Harriette Cole, Mercury News, 19 June 2025
Chicago Tribune Loveland noted the fire Johnson shows, both in excitement for a big play or in agitation for a careless mistake.
—Dan Wiederer, Chicago Tribune, 12 May 2025
As the president expresses agitation toward district judges who block his policies nationwide, Trump so far has maintained more cordiality with Roberts, refusing to attack him personally.
—Zach Schonfeld, The Hill, 23 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for agitation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for agitation
Noun
-
Another trait often ascribed to footballers is courage — the kind that enables them to put their head into a frenzy of flying boots, or take a decisive penalty when thousands are willing them to fail.—
Andy Jones,
New York Times,
6 July 2025
-
That one came down to a late penalty and sent the French crowd into a frenzy.—
Kilty Cleary,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 July 2025
Noun
-
Your husband’s anxiety just makes her puppet strings easier to pull.—
Virginia Chamlee,
People.com,
5 July 2025
-
For example, a 2019 report by Columbia University in the City of New York highlighted how boredom is associated with issues such as risky behavior, anxiety and depression.—
Eric Wood,
Forbes.com,
5 July 2025
Noun
-
The Facebook group admins point out that Papa Rodger is similar to the name of a hero in the incel community, Elliot Rodger, the 22-year-old who killed seven men and women near the campus of the University of California, Santa Barbara, in a 2014 rampage that targeted a sorority house.—
Olivia B. Waxman,
Time,
11 July 2025
-
Shanes James, the man charged with killing six people in a 2023 shooting rampage that began in Bexar County and ended in Austin, has officially been deemed competent to stand trial.—
Austin American Statesman,
Austin American Statesman,
9 July 2025
Noun
-
Rather than basing trades on company fundamentals or earnings outlooks, many investors appear to be reacting to market trends and peer activity — a pattern commonly associated with FOMO, or fear of missing out.—
Spriha Srivastava,
CNBC,
10 July 2025
-
These attempts challenge long-standing norms of academic freedom—that is, the ability of a teacher or researcher in higher education to investigate and discuss subjects without fear of political interference.—
Matt Motta,
Scientific American,
10 July 2025
Noun
-
Some parents remember when tanning beds were all the rage and this trend is pretty similar.—
Annabelle Canela,
Parents,
8 July 2025
-
And if this year's World's Best Awards winners are any indication, refined retreats are all the rage—especially those that give guests direct access to America's most stunning landscapes.—
Stacey Leasca,
Travel + Leisure,
8 July 2025
Noun
-
Reports on Monday showed that Russia had amassed some 50,000 troops on Ukraine's northern border near the Sumy region, sparking concerns that Putin could be planning another major offensive.—
Caitlin McFall,
FOXNews.com,
1 July 2025
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The biggest factors holding back AI use cases, the respondents said, included concerns about inaccuracy (with 50% of those surveyed noting this was a problem) and data security (42%).—
Jeremy Kahn,
Fortune,
1 July 2025
Noun
-
Their visits to the ophthalmologist are now every six months, but Maggie admits the worry never quite fades.—
Ashley Vega,
People.com,
7 July 2025
-
Meanwhile, there was hand-wringing in the NASCAR garage over headlines about high crime and worries about whether the Cup Series cars would be able to have a good show on such a narrow course.—
Jeff Gluck,
New York Times,
6 July 2025
Noun
-
However, there is unease in the market about supply exceeding demand from 2027 onward, and a potential glut that could persist to the end of the decade dragging prices lower.—
Gaurav Sharma,
Forbes.com,
3 July 2025
-
There is a certain unease that settles over a place when a familiar landmark begins to dissolve.—
Ana Gutierrez,
Austin American Statesman,
2 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Agitation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/agitation. Accessed 15 Jul. 2025.
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