Agitated is an adjective describing someone visibly troubled, stirred up, or emotionally aroused. It conveys a state of heightened activity or unrest, often with a sense of restlessness or agitation. The term is commonly used in both everyday and formal contexts to describe physical or emotional disturbance that affects composure or behavior.
"The crowd grew agitated as the speakers debated the issue."
"She tapped her foot and spoke faster, clearly agitated by the delay."
"The news of the delay left him agitated and unable to focus."
"During the interview, he tried to stay calm, though his voice sounded agitated."
Agitated comes from the Latin agitatus, the past participle of agere meaning to drive, act, or set in motion. The prefix a- intensifies the sense of action, while the -tus suffix marks a completed or state-of-being condition in Latin. In English, agitation originally referred to a state of physical stirring or movement. By the 15th-16th centuries, it extended to mental and emotional disturbance as the movement of the mind or feelings. The modern sense of “agitated” as emotionally stirred or disturbed appears in English by the 17th century, aligning with related terms like agitation (the noun) and agitator (the agent). The evolution reflects a shift from literal movement to internal, psychological unrest, retaining the core idea of active disturbance.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Agitated" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Agitated" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Agitated"
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Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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Pronounce as /ˈædʒɪˌteɪtɪd/. The primary stress is on the first syllable: 'ADJ-i-ted'. The sequence blends the /æ/ vowel in the first syllable, the /dʒ/ as in 'job', the mid vowel /ɪ/ in the second syllable, followed by the diphthong /eɪ/ in the second syllable’s nucleus, and ends with /tɪd/. A quick tip: keep the first syllable crisp and avoid a trailing 'ed' that sounds like /ɪd/; let it flow as /-teɪtɪd/.
Common mistakes: 1) Placing stress too late (e.g., /ædʒɪˈteɪtɪd/). 2) Slurring the /dʒ/ into a /d/ or /t/ sound resulting in /ædjətɪd/. 3) Mispronouncing /eɪ/ as /ɛ/ or /iː/, giving /ædʒɪtɪtɪd/. Correction: keep /ˈædʒ/ intact with a firm /dʒ/ release, then use the /eɪ/ diphthong for the second syllable nucleus, and finish with /tɪd/. Practice with a slow tempo, focusing on the /dʒ/ blend and clear vowel shifts.
In US English, the first syllable tends to be strong with /ˈædʒ/ and a clear /ɪ/ in the third sound; rhoticity is present, but not affecting this word's vowel chain much. UK English maintains similar stress, but the /æ/ might be slightly laxed and the /t/ can be more dental. Australian English often features a broader /æ/ and a shorter /ɪ/ before /teɪ/, with a slight rising intonation after stressed syllables in some contexts. Listen for the /dʒ/ cluster consistently across accents.
The difficulty lies in the consonant cluster /dʒ/ immediately after a stressed vowel and the following diphthong /eɪ/ that links to a tense /tɪd/ ending. Some speakers insert an extra syllable or misplace the stress, leading to /ˈædʒɪtɪd/ or /ˈædʒəteɪdɪd/. The articulation requires a crisp /dʒ/ release, careful jaw openness for /æ/ and /ɪ/, and an accurate /eɪ/ nucleus. Practicing with minimal pairs helps stabilize the sequence.
In fluent speech, some speakers reduce unstressed vowels. However, in 'agitated', the second syllable /teɪ/ is typically stressed enough to be pronounced clearly due to its role in the diphthong and the following /tɪd/. In rapid speech you may hear a lighter vowel quality in the second syllable, but avoid compressing /teɪ/ to a schwa; kept as /teɪ/ ensures intelligibility.
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