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
Just a swirl of agitation and a push from the Bears coach for his team to move forward quickly by resetting its focus on the postseason.
—
Dan Wiederer, New York Times, 5 Jan. 2026
Moreover, his latest agitations come just as Lululemon’s third-quarter earnings results topped Wall Street’s expectations.
—Vicki M. Young, Footwear News, 29 Dec. 2025
Sneakers with stitched soles tend to fare better than those held together primarily with glue, since heat and agitation can weaken adhesives over time.
—Katie Cloyd, Martha Stewart, 29 Dec. 2025
But stuffing a washing machine—no matter the setting—will prevent proper agitation and, therefore, less cleaning power.
—Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for agitation
Dan Wiederer, New York Times, 5 Jan. 2026
Moreover, his latest agitations come just as Lululemon’s third-quarter earnings results topped Wall Street’s expectations.
—Vicki M. Young, Footwear News, 29 Dec. 2025
Sneakers with stitched soles tend to fare better than those held together primarily with glue, since heat and agitation can weaken adhesives over time.
—Katie Cloyd, Martha Stewart, 29 Dec. 2025
But stuffing a washing machine—no matter the setting—will prevent proper agitation and, therefore, less cleaning power.
—Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for agitation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for agitation
Noun
-
Travelers not seeking football frenzy should avoid the fall, when hotel and airfare prices skyrocket and crowds are large.—
Sarah Cahalan,
Travel + Leisure,
11 Jan. 2026
-
January was set to host a free-agent frenzy, with most league veterans aligning their contracts to expire in advance of the new CBA.—
Jacob Feldman,
Sportico.com,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Somehow, this new sensation emitted an awareness of the magnitude in which skateboarding would warp my life, which only ratcheted up the anxiety of blowing it.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
12 Jan. 2026
-
The news this week that an ICE agent had shot and killed a woman in Minnesota heightened his anxiety.—
Andrea Castillo,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Victims of and witnesses to the rampage expressed disappointment and concern following the ruling, with at least one questioning whether the decision was moral or just.—
Teri Figueroa,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
11 Jan. 2026
-
The latest problem for Vance is that the department is taking its rebrand too literally, threatening or engaging in a dangerous, multi-nation-conquering, oil-grabbing rampage that the vice president must defend, yet has been noticeably quiet.—
Myra Adams,
Washington Post,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The construction plans have generally raised fears that the London complex could serve as a Beijing intelligence hub.—
Bonny Chu,
FOXNews.com,
14 Jan. 2026
-
Several Venezuela residents told TIME that the fear of what might be discovered on their phone at a checkpoint has guided their behavior in the days since Maduro's ouster.—
Brian Bennett,
Time,
13 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Dorothy Parker was a master of witty dialogue and subtle comedy, and this story perfectly captures all the tenderness and rage of sisterhood.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
14 Jan. 2026
-
Mother killed protecting kids after husband erupts in rage during NFL game.—
,
FOXNews.com,
13 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Grimsson pointed out that concerns about Russia or China's growing influence in the Arctic were overblown.—
Anniek Bao,Dan Murphy,
CNBC,
15 Jan. 2026
-
With the protests in Iran growing by the day, the conversations in our chats changed to signs of hope even amid grave concerns about our family's safety.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
15 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Meanwhile, a criminal investigation into Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell has created worries about the Fed's independence, and whether it might be politically influenced.—
Sawdah Bhaimiya,
CNBC,
16 Jan. 2026
-
First Amendment, press advocacy groups concerned by search The search warrant is raising First Amendment worries from press freedom advocates.—
BrieAnna J. Frank,
USA Today,
15 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
But a sense of unease overshadows it.—
Laura Turbay,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Jan. 2026
-
Today the sprawling complex is a museum and visitor attraction, where a sense of unease lurks along paved tourist trails and lingers in dark corridors.—
Maureen O'Hare,
CNN Money,
10 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Agitation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/agitation. Accessed 18 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
