adjective

agitated

/ˈædʒɪteɪtɪd/ · say it: AJ·uh·tay·tid

troubled and restless

In Emotions & Moods

In more detail

1. (adjective) feeling worried, nervous, or upset

2. (adjective) moving in a quick, unsteady way

Examples

1. She felt agitated after hearing the bad news.
2. The agitated crowd pushed toward the exit.

How to use agitated

Agitated describes both emotional states (feeling nervous or worried) and physical states (moving erratically or turbulently). It is slightly more intense than anxious and emphasizes visible signs of disturbance, whether psychological or physical. The term is common in medical contexts, everyday conversation, and descriptions of emotional situations.

Common phrases

agitated state
become agitated
agitated debate
agitated breathing
agitated water

Synonyms

disturbed · anxious · upset · restless · unsettled

Opposites

calm · composed · peaceful

Word family

agitate · agitation · agitator · agitatedly

A common mistake

Learners sometimes confuse agitated with aggravated; agitated means disturbed or unsettled, while aggravated typically means made worse or annoyed.

Learn it for good

Save this word in WordVale and it comes back for review right before you'd forget it — with pronunciation, real examples, and optional translations. One purchase, no subscription.

Get WordValeFREE 7-DAY TRIAL · iPHONE & iPAD