So while I know irritated and agitated are similar I know they don’t mean the same thing so can someone please what’s the difference between them?
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The man is agitated because he’s afraid of flying. He’s irritated because the plane was delayed.
Both of those words have meanings outside of referring to a person’s emotional state. And the physical meaning of the word can help you grasp the emotional meaning.
If your skin is irritated, then something has caused an unpleasant reaction on it. You want that thing gone because of the sensations it caused. Similarly, if you are *feeling* irritated, then something has caused you to feel annoyed or bothered, and you would like that specific thing gone. Anger is implied.
If you agitate a pool of water, then you stir it up, creating waves and turbulence. Similarly, if you are *feeling* agitated, then powerful emotions are moving around in you, usually anger.
So while both emotional states are related to anger, they have different nuances. One refers to anger at something specific. The other refers to the intensity of the anger.
Irritated – I’m annoyed, but not angry. A low energy emotion, I can stay calm.
Agitated – I’m feeling more feelings and unable to stay calm. Often, but not necessarily, felt after continued irritation.
You feel irritated. You act agitated.
Irritation is a feeling within. Agitation is a state that is visible outside of your mind.
Technically you could be visibly irritated but I don’t think you can be hiddenly agitated or you wouldn’t be agitated, just irritated.
You yell in someone’s ear “hey jerk!!”
They are agitated because you’re so loud.
They are irritated because you called them a jerk.
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