ANTSY Synonyms: 172 Similar and Opposite Words

antsy

adjective

ˈant-sē

Definition of antsy

as in worried

feeling or showing uncomfortable feelings of uncertainty he was feeling understandably antsy about the tax audit

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in fidgety

making jerky or restless movements after a few minutes in the formal restaurant, the kids got antsy

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in excited

showing urgent desire or interest she's been antsy to start what promises to be an exciting new job

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of antsy This video might be a good one to play when the kids are getting antsy and need an excuse to get their bodies moving. — Parents, 19 June 2026 Whether bored, antsy, or both, Louis began swaying his hips from side to side and dancing to the music. — Alicia Brunker, InStyle, 11 June 2026 And that’s when Nixon got antsy. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 11 June 2026 Security was no doubt antsy to call it a night and go home. — Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 10 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for antsy

Recent Examples of Synonyms for antsy

Adjective

Teams — worried about how a politically defiant Black quarterback on the roster would impact their bottom lines — over the next several seasons signed dozens of inferior quarterbacks to round out their depth charts.

— Mike Jones, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026
Los Angeles’ identity and workers’ livelihoods are at stake, say worried residents who fear that Paramount will leave the state.

— Kevinisha Walker, Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of worried

Adjective

A student who is excited about an experiment is still learning.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 19 Sep. 2026
Based on a straw poll of curators, collectors, and rival dealers at a spree of events last week, this is the show everyone’s most excited to see in Chelsea this fall.

— Nate Freeman, Vanity Fair, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of excited

Adjective

That feels very much in tune with the anxious characters Eisenberg has played over the course of his acting career, but this whole directing thing is working out nicely for him, too.

— Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 6 Sep. 2026
Nelson remembers hushing her foster children back to sleep that night and calling 911, anxious for an end to those sleepless nights.

— Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of anxious

Adjective

Especially when the protagonists are fighting gangsters, offensive editors, twitchy Vatican librarians, and an oversized Jason Momoa, to claim the hand of Gal Gadot’s two characters, one in the present, one in the past.

— A.D. Amorosi, SPIN, 6 Aug. 2026
However, his ability to mirror in space and react quickly to twitchy pass rushers can be an adventure, which is partly why a transition from tackle to guard makes sense.

— Dane Brugler, New York Times, 30 July 2026

Definition of twitchy

Adjective

The decade marked a golden age for music in the Southeast Asian nation, which even counted its king among its avid pop singers.

— H.M.A. Leow, JSTOR Daily, 15 Sep. 2026
My dad’s 60th birthday was coming up, and as an avid whisky drinker with a particularly sharp nose, his dream trip has always been to explore the coastline of Islay, a Scottish island famed worldwide for its smoky, peated single malt whiskies.

— Hayley Domin, Condé Nast Traveler, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of avid

Adjective

One grandmother initially didn’t understand what the couple was asking, while two were a little nervous about taking on a role traditionally given to children.

— Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 15 Sep. 2026
But one area that has Chiefs fans a little nervous is the offensive line that will be tasked with keeping Mahomes upright.

— Scott Chasen, Kansas City Star, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of nervous

Adjective

An upset win would not have redefined Miami as anything but a team taking necessary steps up from the foot of a mountain.

— Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 14 Sep. 2026
First elected in 2020 in an upset race, Raman is running close to Bass in the Mayoral polls, and has seen an uptick as the campaign has kicked into post-summer high-gear.

— Dominic Patten, Deadline, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of upset

Browse Nearby Words

antres

antsy

anxiety

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Antsy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/antsy. Accessed 19 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of antsy

adjective

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

aggrandize

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Popular in Wordplay

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Words from the 'Odyssey'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 18

Popular

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Games & Quizzes