agitation
noun
ag·i·ta·tion
ˌa-jə-ˈtā-shən
plural agitations
1
: the act or an instance of agitating something : a moving back and forth or with an irregular, rapid, or violent action
In candy making, this agitation usually consists of working the chocolate back and forth on a marble surface with a large scraper.—Rose Levy Beranbaum
The technology is based on the controlled agitation of concentrated ore particles with precisely determined amounts of acid.—Corale L. Brierley
2
: a state or feeling of being agitated and restless
nervous agitation
Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like a vice upon my wrist in his agitation.—Arthur Conan Doyle
She sat some time in a good deal of agitation, listening, trembling, and fearing to be sent for every moment …—Jane Austen
: a state of excessive psychomotor activity accompanied by increased tension and irritability
… characterized by prominent agitation, irritability, and delusions …—Oliver Freudenreich et al.
Propranolol and other beta-blockers suppress physical symptoms of agitation and anxiety by slowing down the sympathetic nervous system.—The Harvard Mental Health Letter
3
: a persistent and sustained attempt to arouse public feeling or influence public opinion (as by appeals, discussions, or demonstrations)
political agitation
… makes it clear that this assertive attitude of black women was essential during the agitation for civil rights.—Gloria Naylor
Cite this Entry
“Agitation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/agitation. Accessed 30 Mar. 2025.
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