agitation

A feeling of being worried, upset, and unable to stay calm.

• She showed signs of agitation.
• His agitation grew while he waited.
• The patient paced the room in agitation.

Similar words: distress, restlessness, anxiety

Opposites: calm

Common phrases: great agitation, signs of agitation, in agitation

The act of shaking or stirring something, or a state of violent, irregular movement.

• The liquid needs constant agitation.
• Mechanical agitation keeps the particles apart.
• The storm caused violent agitation of the water.

Similar words: shaking, stirring, disturbance

Common phrases: constant agitation, mechanical agitation, agitation of something

Public efforts to stir strong feelings and encourage people to demand change.

• Political agitation spread through the city.
• Agitation for reform continued for months.
• The government tried to stop agitation against the law.

How to use it: agitation for something (Agitation for better wages increased.); agitation against something (The arrests fuelled agitation against the government.)

Similar words: campaigning

Common phrases: political agitation, agitation for something, agitation against something