tizzy

American  

[tiz-ee] / ˈtɪz i /

noun

tizzies plural

1. Slang.

   1. a dither.

   2. a nervous, excited, or distracted state.

2. British Obsolete. a sixpence.

---

tizzy British  

/ ˈtɪzɪ /

noun

1. Also called: tizz.   tiz-woz.  informal a state of confusion, anxiety, or excitement

---

Etymology

Origin of tizzy

First recorded in 1795–1805; origin uncertain

Explanation

If you're feeling nervous and agitated, you're in a tizzy. If you dislike public speaking, you might be in a tizzy about an upcoming presentation you're giving at school. The noun tizzy can be positive or negative. So you may get into a tizzy about a big party you're throwing next week, feeling anxious and excited simultaneously. But you can also be in a tizzy about your terrible grade on a math test. Experts aren't sure about the origin of this informal American word, although they know it's been in use since the 1930s.

Example Sentences

The realization that I didn’t have enough of my prescription medications to last three extra days—including blood thinners, which I was taking after a near-fatal pulmonary embolism last year—sent me into a tizzy.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 6, 2026

But it isn’t just the men that have Agathe in a tizzy.

From Los Angeles Times • May 23, 2025

This week, he phoned Jeff Bezos in a tizzy, furious over a reported Amazon plan to show consumers how much of each product’s price owed to the new tariffs on imported goods.

From Slate • May 2, 2025

The rule sent the industry into a tizzy, with the main concern that buyers, especially those who qualify for zero-down programs, won’t be willing or able to pay those commissions out of pocket.

From Salon • Sep. 14, 2024

We were in a tizzy then until Lamont escaped out into his free afternoon.

From "Secrets at Sea" by Richard Peck

Related Words

• agitation
• disorientation
• dither
• flap
• fluster
• lather