1
as in worried
feeling or showing uncomfortable feelings of uncertainty
was anxious about the play tryouts scheduled for the following day
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in uneasy
marked by or causing agitation or uncomfortable feelings
the whole crowd seemed to make an anxious gasp as the home team almost fumbled the ball
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in excited
showing urgent desire or interest
I'm anxious for my birthday party
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of anxious
Amid high-profile job cuts at major companies like Meta, Amazon and Target, many workers are undoubtedly anxious about future downsizing.
—
Sophie Caldwell, CNBC, 31 Oct. 2025
Farrell fares a bit better in the picture’s more intimate scenes, where his anxious, conflicted demeanor makes more sense.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 30 Oct. 2025
Nike’s new slogan is the perfect motto for an anxious America.
—FOXNews.com, 30 Oct. 2025
Amid a monthslong slump in hiring, and companies announcing mass layoffs, Americans appear to be growing increasingly anxious about their job security and prospects in the current labor market.
—Hugh Cameron, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for anxious
Sophie Caldwell, CNBC, 31 Oct. 2025
Farrell fares a bit better in the picture’s more intimate scenes, where his anxious, conflicted demeanor makes more sense.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 30 Oct. 2025
Nike’s new slogan is the perfect motto for an anxious America.
—FOXNews.com, 30 Oct. 2025
Amid a monthslong slump in hiring, and companies announcing mass layoffs, Americans appear to be growing increasingly anxious about their job security and prospects in the current labor market.
—Hugh Cameron, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for anxious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for anxious
Adjective
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Residents of Cranbourne Hall Residential Park, the nearest neighborhood, are worried that the new home will be less private than the four-bedroom Adelaide Cottage.—
Christina Dugan Ramirez,
FOXNews.com,
2 Nov. 2025
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Haseebullah also is worried about the Cybertrucks’ surveillance abilities that the public may not be unaware of, and that the fleet might give Tesla access to police data.—
Sasha Rogelberg,
Fortune,
2 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Across its run, The Witcher has traced the uneasy bond between Geralt of Rivia (Liam Hemsworth), the monster hunter bound by destiny; Ciri (Freya Allan), the princess whose power could save or destroy worlds; and Yennefer (Anya Chalotra), the sorceress torn between ambition and love.—
JP Mangalindan,
Time,
30 Oct. 2025
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In the Odyssey, Homer depicts Helen and Menelaus’s reunion as uneasy and sometimes tearful, after years of estrangement.—
Elizabeth D. Samet,
Foreign Affairs,
29 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Kaitlyn is excited to one day share the memories of this very celebration with her little girl.—
Angela Andaloro,
PEOPLE,
30 Oct. 2025
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Birchmore, prosecutors said, was excited about becoming a mother and hoped Farwell would be involved in the baby’s life.—
Julia Marnin,
Miami Herald,
29 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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The dogs' job on marathon day will be to calm race-day jitters at the starting line, where runners can feel overwhelmed or nervous about the trek ahead.—
Kelli Bender,
PEOPLE,
31 Oct. 2025
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There was a lot of nervous smiling.—
Raechal Shewfelt,
Entertainment Weekly,
31 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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With 31 percent of adults and 80 percent of adolescents not meeting recommended levels of physical activity, researchers have unveiled a disturbing glimpse of what the long-term impacts on our health and appearance could look like.—
Hannah Millington,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Oct. 2025
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The film follows his lead, constructing a near-relentless study of misery that culminates in a disturbing finale.—
Shirley Li,
The Atlantic,
31 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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So many seem eager to be rid of the labors of thought and expression—the very labors that define them as free and autonomous human beings—by ceding them to generative artificial intelligence.—
Elizabeth D. Samet,
Foreign Affairs,
29 Oct. 2025
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Wall Street has been eager to cash in on the technology that some believe could be as foundational as the smartphone or the internet, with AI playing a bigger role in everything from office work to health care and education.—
Lisa Eadicicco,
CNN Money,
28 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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For example, stress can induce short term issues like upset stomach, vomiting or diarrhea, while longer term stress can both cause and contribute to irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).—
Sandra Rose Salathe,
Flow Space,
29 Oct. 2025
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And so, unfortunately, people are upset about the comments.—
Joe Davidson,
Sacbee.com,
29 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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The dramatic incident comes during an already tense period in aviation, with significant delays and staffing shortages due to the government shutdown.—
Cindy Von Quednow,
CNN Money,
28 Oct. 2025
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Her boyfriend left the party early, and things were tense between them afterward.—
Ashley Vega,
PEOPLE,
28 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Anxious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/anxious. Accessed 3 Nov. 2025.
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