Agglomerated particles of water-swellable addition polymers, the agglomerated particles having an average particle diameter of from 20 to 5000 &mgr;m and consisting of primary particles having an average particle diameter of from 0.1 to 15 &mgr;m, being preparable by polymerization of water-soluble monomers in the presence of from 1′ to 10% by weight of a regulator and at least 2000 ppm, each based on the monomers, of a crosslinking agent in the manner of a water-in-oil polymerization and subsequent azeotropic removal of water from the water-in-oil polymer emulsions, containing the primary particles, in the presence of agglomerating polyalkylene glycols which (a) are obtainable by an addition reaction of C2-C4-alkylene oxides with alcohols, phenols, amines or carboxylic acids, and (b) contain at least 2 polymerized alkylene oxide units, and disintegrating into the primary particles on introduction into an aqueous medium, processes for preparing the agglomerated polymer particles and use of the agglomerated particles as thickeners for print pastes.