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agitation

agitation

12 5.1
A feeling of nervous worry and restlessness
  • noun
  • /ˌædʒɪˈteɪʃən/
translation icon : agitación
  • After the unexpected news, she was filled with agitation and couldn't sit still.
  • nondrug interventions for agitation
  • interventions for agitation
  • frustration or agitation

It's more that low grade agitation in your body.

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Examples

  • In a sudden burst of obvious agitation, Nathan swung away from the blazing fire.

    Fiction book (1994)
  • Mel, what is all this frustration and agitation inside you about?

  • This put him in a state of agitation.

  • I notice too much agitation.

  • We feel a little discomfort, little agitation, and we run away.

  • For me, it usually presents as extreme agitation, which anxiety can extend to agitation.

  • Stage 1 of the recovery process often includes displays of agitation, impulsivity, and confusion.

    Academic text (2003)
  • Some experience other changes, like frequent shifts in mood, increased anxiety and agitation, and problems with coping in new situations.

  • The explanation more startling than anything I had anticipated came when Dirk arrived at my apartment one night in a state of extreme agitation.

  • Also, avoid the dehydrating effects of caffeinated drinks, as well as the agitation that may accompany caffeine intake.

    Academic text (2008)

Synonyms

anxiety
vsagitation
423 3.5

A worried, nervous feeling that makes you unable to relax

is broader, mixing nervous excitement with emotional upset not only worry
fever
vsagitation
70 6.6

A time of very strong excitement and busy activity

is milder and focused on emotional disturbance rather than intense arousal
irritation
vsagitation
27 3.6

A feeling of annoyance or anger

is about anxious nervous excitement rather than simple annoyance or anger
annoyance
vsagitation
26 2.8

The feeling you have when something bothers you

is a broader anxious, nervous emotional state, not only irritation
unease
vsagitation
19 4.4

A feeling of worry and not being relaxed

is stronger, involving clearer nervous excitement and emotional disturbance
disturbance
vsagitation
  • Specialized
18 4.1

A problem that makes someone feel worried or emotionally upset

is more about active nervous excitement and anxious feelings
irritability
vsagitation
8 4.2

Being easily annoyed or quick to become angry

is concerned with nervous emotional disturbance rather than quick annoyance
arousal
vsagitation
7 6.1

A state of being more awake and feeling stronger emotions

is specifically about anxious, nervous emotional disturbance rather than general stimulation
unrest
vsagitation
5 4.4

A feeling of worry that makes someone restless

is mainly an internal emotional disturbance rather than collective public disorder
anxiousness
vsagitation
3 3.8

A feeling of worry and nervousness before an event or about the future

is wider, adding emotional disturbance and restless excitement to worry
agita
vsagitation
  • Informal
2 9.9

A feeling of worry and nervousness in a stressful situation

is the general state of emotional nervous excitement rather than a slang term
fluster
vsagitation
1 4.9

A short time of nervous confusion that makes you forget things

is broader, covering general nervous excitement not only confused moments
state of excitement
vsagitation
1 3.1

A strong feeling of joy and energy that makes you unable to sit still

is more about anxious or nervous feelings rather than sheer excitement
edginess
vsagitation
1 6.0

A feeling of nervousness and tension that makes you easily annoyed

is a general disturbed feeling, not only the tense readiness implied here
franticness
vsagitation
1 6.0

A strong feeling of worry that makes people act very quickly

is less extreme, covering milder nervous excitement and disturbance
perturbance
vsagitation
8.2

A feeling of worry or upset that makes you restless

is a common, everyday feeling of nervous excitement and disturbance
emotional arousal
vsagitation
  • Specialized
5.8

A strong feeling that makes your body react

focuses on anxious or nervous feelings rather than neutral stimulation
upsetment
vsagitation
8.1

A feeling of being sad, angry, or worried after bad news

is centered on nervous excitement rather than just feeling disturbed
fretfulness
vsagitation
7.7

A feeling of being nervous, annoyed, or easily upset

is focused more on nervous excitement and active disturbance than irritability

Antonyms

48 4.4

A calm, peaceful feeling without worry

9 2.7

A state without strong feelings or worry in your mind

How Agitated

anxiety
423 3.5
agitation
12 5.1
nervousness
36 2.7
unease
19 4.4
calmness
9 2.7

Surface Forms

agitation singular
agitations plural

Morphology

agitation = agitate (transparent) = agitate + ion

A regular nominalization of the verb 'agitate' with the productive suffix '-ion', yielding the state or process of being stirred or disturbed.

Etymology

Agitation comes from the Latin root ag- (seen in act and action) which means 'to move' or 'to do', and from the verb agitate that meant 'to shake or stir'. So emotional agitation is like your feelings being 'shaken' or moved, which is why it means 'anxiety' or 'nervous excitement'.