Synonyms for agitation
Most common
excitement turmoil commotion restlessness unrest ferment perturbation
Synonyms by meaning
Noun
1. Excitement
excitement, turmoil, commotion, restlessness, uneasiness, disturbance, stir, confusion, trepidation, fury, turbulence, upheaval, tumult, shaking, distraction, tremor, fuss, storm, tempest, flutter, hullabaloo, shake
2. Unrest
3. Perturbation — A disturbance of personal tranquillity; disturbance of someone's peace of mind; an emotion combining…
Definitions
- n. 1
A disturbance of personal tranquillity; disturbance of someone's peace of mind; an emotion combining irritation, restlessness and aggravation; a feeling of being riled up or bothered to the point of experiencing distress and tension.
She causes great agitation within me.
- n. 2
The act of agitating, or the state of being agitated; the state of being disrupted with violence, or with irregular action; commotion.
During a storm the sea is in agitation.
- n. 3
Excitement of public feeling by discussion, appeals, etc.
the antislavery agitation
Related words
- Word family
- agitationist
Forms
- Plural
- agitations → excitements, turmoils, commotions, restlessnesses…
Choose the right word
We speak of agitation of feeling, disturbance of mind, a storm of passion, a tempest of rage.
J. C. Fernald, English Synonyms and Antonyms (1914)
Example sentences
- excitement Igor's excitement for exploring Algeria only grew.
- turmoil Algeria faced political turmoil in the 1990s.
- commotion James heard the commotion and hurried to the room.
- restlessness I asked him what was causing his restlessness.
- mischief I like the child all the better for his mischief.
- vexation Free yourself of sadness, vexation, and fear!
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| agitation | falling | |
| excitement | rising | |
| turmoil | rising | |
| commotion | rising | |
| restlessness | steady | |
| mischief | rising |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 3 letters
- jar1
- 4 letters
- stir1, fury2, fuss1, stew1
- 5 letters
- storm1, shake1, fever2
- 6 letters
- unrest2, tremor2, tumult2, lather2
- 7 letters
- shaking2, turmoil2, tempest2, flutter2, ferment2
- 8 letters
- mischief2, upheaval3, vexation
- 9 letters
- confusion3, commotion3
- 10 letters
- excitement3, turbulence3, uneasiness4, hullabaloo4
- 11 letters
- distraction3, disturbance3, trepidation4
- 12 letters
- fermentation4, restlessness3, perturbation4
- 15 letters
- tempestuousness
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (fury2 = 2 syllables).