anxious

adjective

anx·ious | \ˈaŋ(k)-shəs

Definition of anxious

1 : characterized by extreme uneasiness of mind or brooding fear about some contingency : worried anxious parents

2 : characterized by, resulting from, or causing anxiety : worrying They spent an anxious night.

3 : ardently or earnestly wishing She was anxious to learn more.

Other Words from anxious Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym Can anxious Be Used as a Synonym for eager? More Example Sentences Learn More about anxious

Keep scrolling for more

Choose the Right Synonym for anxious

eager, avid, keen, anxious, athirst mean moved by a strong and urgent desire or interest. eager implies ardor and enthusiasm and sometimes impatience at delay or restraint. eager to get started avid adds to eager the implication of insatiability or greed. avid for new thrills keen suggests intensity of interest and quick responsiveness in action. keen on the latest fashions anxious emphasizes fear of frustration or failure or disappointment. anxious not to make a social blunder athirst stresses yearning but not necessarily readiness for action. athirst for adventure

Can anxious Be Used as a Synonym for eager?

The fact that individual words can have multiple senses that are closely related in meaning is something which many people find objectionable about the English language. Anxious is an example of such a word, as people will use it to mean "worried," "eager (but with an undertone of worry)," and simply "eager."

The word has been used in the sense of "eager" for a considerable length of time, with evidence going back at least to the 17th century.

Examples of anxious in a Sentence

… to the eye anxious for reform in the city and forgetful of conditions in the countryside … — Joseph A. Amato, Dust, 2000 He was exhausted yet exhilarated, anxious … about getting on the ice with a team that had a chance to win. — Michael Farber, Sports Illustrated, 20 Mar. 2000 The individual states—fearful of losing industry and richer residents to lower-tax rivals and anxious to minimize their burden of needy citizens … — Atlantic, May 1997 He was so anxious to get a fly into the water that he had to reproach himself for haste. — John Cheever, The Wapshot Chronicle, 1957 She feels anxious and depressed. People are anxious about the future. He was anxious that the weather would not improve in time for the party. We experienced a few anxious moments as we waited to hear the results of the test. It was an anxious night as she waited for her children to come home. He was waiting at the door with an anxious expression on his face. He was anxious for more news.

Recent Examples on the Web

And with only one run per car allowed on race day, there's little reason to be anxious about range. — Jonathan M. Gitlin, Ars Technica, "7:57:148—Volkswagen makes racing history with record-breaking electric race car," 29 June 2018 To bypass a trade war Chinese and American companies alike are anxious about growing tensions between the Chinese and American governments over trade. — Hallie Detrick, Fortune, "Google Just Made a Huge Investment in JD.com. Here's Why.," 18 June 2018 Only when the bees get anxious because there’s a barometric pressure drop, which means that rain is coming. — Bethany Ao, Philly.com, "Philly millennials are buzzing about beekeeping," 11 July 2018 Yet recent escalations in trade tensions have spurred increased volatility in financial markets, making some investors more anxious. — Daniel Kruger, WSJ, "Behind the Flattening Yield Curve: Fed Rate Increases and Tariff Fights," 5 July 2018 Now that Trump is carrying out his campaign promises to get tough on all immigrants who cross the border, legally or illegally, Republican leaders seem increasingly anxious about it. — Amber Phillips, Washington Post, "Is Trump losing his support in Congress for separating families at the border?," 19 June 2018 Conservative voters and activists were outraged and Republican Party leaders were left anxious over the prospect of a more challenging re-election for the freshman congressman. — Anthony Man, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Pro-gun challenger takes on Congressman Brian Mast in Republican primary," 25 Apr. 2018 Nearly everyone writing about politics today seems anxious about tribalism. — Park Macdougald, Daily Intelligencer, "Can America’s Two Tribes Learn to Live Together?," 19 Apr. 2018 Even with another storm set to begin Wednesday, the long-overdue precipitation probably won't be nearly enough to overcome a winter that's been so bone dry that it's made Californians increasingly anxious about about a recurrence of the drought. — Dale Kasler And Benjy Egel, sacbee, "Rain, snow and hail pound Northern California at end of bone-dry February," 27 Feb. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'anxious.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.