agitated sea

USAGE SUMMARY

"agitated sea" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It can be used to describe a body of water that is disturbed, turbulent, or unsettled due to wind, waves, or other factors. Example: The sailors braced themselves for the journey ahead, as they could see the agitated sea ahead of them, its frothy waves crashing against the sides of their ship.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

In "The Ice Balloon," I wrote, "A sufficiently agitated sea could make a field appear to undulate, to move in 'swell-like ridges, as if our ice was a carpet shaken by Titans,' an explorer named Elisha Kane wrote.

The New Yorker

Ship-based automatic detection of small floating objects on an agitated sea surface remains a hard problem.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

The same reasoning applies above water: the target is small and partially submerged, and the agitated sea surface acts as a dynamic and noisy background hiding the target among the clutter.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

We have shown that pixel-based masking techniques such as background and behaviour subtraction can be used to detect anomalous objects in the very dynamic environment provided by an agitated sea surface.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

In several canvases, the clash is muted by mist and spray, while in others the drama is heightened by stormy skies and agitated seas.

The New York Times

"Hurricanes agitate the sea surface, which greatly enhances the transfer of CO2," he says.

Science Magazine

One observer of a performance in the Bowery said that the audience "heaves continually in wild and sullen tumult, like a red flannel sea agitated by some lurid storm... the yells and screams, the shuddering oaths and obscene songs tumbling down from the third tier".

The New York Times - Books

The abyssal realm is very calm, being far removed from storms that agitate the ocean at the air-sea interface.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Sea foam forms when the ocean is agitated by wind and waves, a spokesperson for the Met Office explained.

Independent

The unknowing relentless sea would agitate the coffins loose over time, and leaking radiation would begin to kill off sea life.

Huffington Post

For this purpose, a sample of the sea sand was suspended in MilliQ water and vigorously agitated for a few seconds.

Geochemical Transactions

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "agitated sea" to vividly describe a maritime environment affected by strong winds or storms, enhancing the reader's sense of place and atmosphere.

Common error

Avoid using "agitated sea" to describe mildly disturbed water; reserve it for situations where the sea is significantly rough and turbulent, preserving the impact of the description.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "agitated sea" functions primarily as a descriptive noun phrase. It combines an adjective ("agitated") with a noun ("sea") to vividly portray the state of the ocean. This is evident in the provided examples from Ludwig, where it's used to paint a picture of turbulent maritime conditions.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

35%

Encyclopedias

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "agitated sea" serves as a vivid descriptor of turbulent marine environments, commonly employed across various contexts from news reports to scientific analyses. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically sound and functions effectively as a descriptive noun phrase. While "agitated sea" is most frequently found in news and scientific contexts, other synonyms like "rough sea" or "stormy sea", as detailed in the related phrases section, can provide alternative shades of meaning depending on the specific nuance you want to convey. When using "agitated sea", aim to vividly represent a significantly disturbed body of water to maximize the phrase's descriptive impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

rough sea

Describes a sea with strong winds and large waves, similar to an agitated one.

turbulent sea

Highlights the unstable and chaotic nature of the sea's surface.

stormy sea

Emphasizes the presence of a storm and its effects on the sea.

choppy sea

Focuses on the irregular and broken surface of the water.

restless sea

Implies a constant state of motion and disturbance.

tempestuous sea

Highlights the violent and turbulent nature of the sea.

troubled waters

Metaphorically relates the sea's condition to a state of difficulty or unrest.

churning sea

Focuses on the circular or swirling motion of the water.

uneasy sea

Suggests a sense of underlying disturbance or instability.

wild sea

Emphasizes the untamed and uncontrolled nature of the sea's surface.

FAQs

How can I use "agitated sea" in a sentence?

You can use "agitated sea" to describe a body of water that is disturbed by wind and waves, such as: "The small boat struggled to stay afloat in the "agitated sea"." or "The "agitated sea" made it difficult for the fishermen to cast their nets."

What are some synonyms for "agitated sea"?

Alternatives for "agitated sea" include "rough sea", "turbulent sea", or "stormy sea", each emphasizing different aspects of the sea's disturbed state.

Is it correct to use "agitated sea" in a formal context?

Yes, "agitated sea" is appropriate in formal contexts, especially when describing maritime conditions in scientific or news reports. The phrase is grammatically correct and widely understood.

What makes "agitated sea" different from "calm sea"?

"Agitated sea" describes a sea state characterized by turbulence, waves, and disturbance, while "calm sea" refers to a sea state with little to no wave activity or disturbance. The terms are antonyms, representing opposite conditions.