He sat down to recover from his agitation.
Source: tatoeba (295377)
Agitation
/æ.d͡ʒɪˈteɪ.ʃən/
Synonyms for "agitation" (278 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (56)
Noun(9 words)
adoaggravationall oversall-oversangstanimationanxietyanxiety hysteriaanxiety neurosisanxious benchanxious concernanxious seatanxiousnessapprehensionapprehensivenessarousalarousingattack of nervesblusterboil
Show 27 more words
boilingbotherbotherationbrawlbroilbrouhahabuck feverburstbustlecacophonycankerworm of carecarecase of nerveschaoschills of fearchurnchurningcold creepscold shiverscold sweatcommotionconcernconcernmentconfusioncreepsdiscomfiturediscomposure
Strong matches (83)
dismaydisorderdisquietdisquietudedistractiondistressdisturbanceditherdreadebullienceebullitioneddyeffervescenceelectrificationembarrassmentembroilmentexacerbationexasperationexcessive irritabilityexcitation
Show 46 more words
excitementexhilarationfanaticismfearfear and tremblingfeery-faryfermentfermentationfeverfidgetinessfidgetsfiringfitflapflurryflusterflutterflutterinessfomentfomentationfoofarawforebodingforebodingnessfrenzyfumefurorfurorefuryfussfussinessgalvanizationgoose bumpsgoosefleshheartquakeheathorripilationhubbubhullabaloohurly burlyhurly-burlyhurryhurry scurryhurry-scurryincitationincitementinflammation
Noun(16 words)
Verb(1 words)
incite anger
Related words (139)
infuriationinquietudeinstigationirritationjarjimjamsjitterslatherlathering upmaelstrommalaisemisgivingmoilmorbid excitabilitymotionnervesnervositynervous stomachnervous strainnervous tension
Show 94 more words
nervousnessoveranxietypalpitationpandemoniumpanicpanickinesspassionpell mellpell-mellpep rallypep talkperturbationpins and needlespotherprovocationpuckerquakingqualmquiver of terrorrabble rousingrabble-rousingracketragerampageresentmentrestlessnessrippleroilroutrowruckusrufflerumpusscrambleseditionseethingshakeshakingshivershiverssolicitudespasmspell of nervesspurtstage frightstate of nervessteaming upstewstimulationstimulusstirstirringstirring upstirring-upstormstorminessstrainsuspensesweatswirlswirlingtempesttempestuousnesstensionthrill of fearticto doto-dotrepidationtrepiditytroubletumulttumultuousnessturbidityturbulenceturmoiltwitchingtwitteruncertaintyuneasinessunquietunquietnessuproarupsetvellicationvexationvortexwhipping upwhirlwildnessworking upyeastinesszealzealousness
Noun(24 words)
Verb(1 words)
make a stir
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: excitement, turmoil, ado, aggravation, all overs.
- Sentence evidence is available for agitation, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wiktionary, wordnet, opengloss, moby, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "agitation".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "agitation"
Keep "agitation" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "agitation" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "agitation", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "agitation" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
17 entriesSturm und Drangdisturbanceemotional statefeelingmental conditionmental statemotilitymotionmovemovementpolitical activityprocesspsychological conditionpsychological statesocial actionturbulence
Showing 16 of 17 words.
More specific
12 entriesCollocations
6 entriesagitation levelagitation processemotional agitationgreat agitationphysical agitationstate of agitation
Inflections
1 entriesDerivations
6 entriesAntonyms
1 entriesTranslations
21 translations across 13 languages.
Chinese Cantonese
2 entries- 搖動 /摇动 noun (a stirring; a disturbance of tranquility)
- 攪動 /搅动 noun (a stirring; a disturbance of tranquility)
Esperanto
1 entries- agitiĝo noun (a stirring; a disturbance of tranquility)
Hebrew
1 entries- תסיסה noun (a stirring; a disturbance of tranquility)
Irish
1 entries- suaitheadh noun (a stirring; a disturbance of tranquility)
Latin
1 entries- trepidatio noun (a stirring; a disturbance of tranquility)
Malayalam
1 entries- ക്ഷോഭം noun (a stirring; a disturbance of tranquility)
Ottoman Turkish
2 entries- اضطراب noun (a stirring; a disturbance of tranquility)
- قلق noun (a stirring; a disturbance of tranquility)
Portuguese
1 entries- agitação noun (a stirring; a disturbance of tranquility)
Russian
4 entries- беспоко́йство noun (a stirring; a disturbance of tranquility)
- возбужде́ние noun (a stirring; a disturbance of tranquility)
- волне́ние noun (a stirring; a disturbance of tranquility)
- смяте́ние noun (a stirring; a disturbance of tranquility)
Sanskrit
1 entries- त्विष् noun (a stirring; a disturbance of tranquility)
Scottish Gaelic
4 entries- docair noun (a stirring; a disturbance of tranquility)
- gailc noun (a stirring; a disturbance of tranquility)
- mì-shuaimhneas noun (a stirring; a disturbance of tranquility)
- troimh-a-chèile noun (a stirring; a disturbance of tranquility)
Spanish
1 entries- inquietud noun (a stirring; a disturbance of tranquility)
Tibetan
1 entries- རྙོག་སློང noun (a stirring; a disturbance of tranquility)
Sample sentences
18 total sentences available.
Fred's agitation has now subsided, and he's sleeping peacefully.
Source: tatoeba (327563)
"Look at the alchemic glass," he cried; "something glows in the crucible, pure and heavy." He lifted it with a trembling hand, and exclaimed in a voice of agitation, "Gold! gold!"
Source: tatoeba (2674689)
Sami was hopeful that Layla's agitation might be subsiding.
Source: tatoeba (6134959)
Showing 4 of 18 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "agitation"?
Closest matches include excitement, turmoil, ado, aggravation, all overs.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "agitation"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.