agitated

adjective

ag·​i·​tat·​ed ˈa-jə-ˌtā-təd How to pronounce agitated (audio)
Synonyms of agitated
: troubled in mind : disturbed and upset
When Caswall asked him to describe what he had seen …, he got very agitatedBram Stoker
was so agitated she could hardly speak
agitatedly adverb
pacing back and forth agitatedly

Examples of agitated in a Sentence

all ferry crossings were cancelled because of the agitated waters around the islands by the time they finally showed up, long after midnight, we'd become so agitated that we never did get to sleep that night
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
His knuckles tapped an agitated beat on the steering wheel along to soft jazz playing on the radio. ‘pemi Aguda, Literary Hub, 6 May 2026 But this twisting, agitated record sometimes reveals a softer side. Alastair Shuttleworth, Pitchfork, 2 May 2026 For pools with a light colored bottom, neon pink and orange were the most visible in calm and agitated waters. Cody Godwin, USA Today, 1 May 2026 As the crowd approached a line of officers from various agencies, including the Caldwell Police Department, people became more agitated, and officers began to ask people to back up, with one of them pushing Hardy back with his baton, video footage showed. Alex Brizee, Idaho Statesman, 23 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for agitated

Word History

Etymology

from past participle of agitate

First Known Use

1684, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of agitated was in 1684

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Cite this Entry

“Agitated.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/agitated. Accessed 8 May. 2026.

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