1
2
3

Synonym Chooser

How is the word anxious distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of anxious are athirst, avid, eager, and keen. While all these words mean "moved by a strong and urgent desire or interest," anxious emphasizes fear of frustration or failure or disappointment.

anxious not to make a social blunder

When would athirst be a good substitute for anxious?

Although the words athirst and anxious have much in common, athirst stresses yearning but not necessarily readiness for action.

athirst for adventure

How do avid and eager relate to one another, in the sense of anxious?

Avid adds to eager the implication of insatiability or greed.

avid for new thrills

When is eager a more appropriate choice than anxious?

The synonyms eager and anxious are sometimes interchangeable, but eager implies ardor and enthusiasm and sometimes impatience at delay or restraint.

eager to get started

Where would keen be a reasonable alternative to anxious?

While the synonyms keen and anxious are close in meaning, keen suggests intensity of interest and quick responsiveness in action.

keen on the latest fashions

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 anxious Pets can become anxious and even experience panic attacks. Clara Hendrickson, Freep.com, 4 July 2025 Early news reports of a deadly Chris-Craft accident kept them anxious and restless all night. Ethan Wolin updated July 4, Sacbee.com, 4 July 2025 But perhaps the most persuasive testimony came from Mrs. Hall herself, who embodied the defense’s portrait of a loyal, unsuspecting wife, home alone and anxious over her husband’s mysterious disappearance. Jordan Runtagh, People.com, 27 June 2025 The king, perhaps, was anxious to maintain his control over the nuts as a diplomatic resource—a means of impressing important dignitaries. The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 26 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for anxious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for anxious
Adjective
  • Critics of Greene's bill are worried that the legislation could disproportionately benefit higher-income individuals, who naturally stand to make more profits from a home sale.
    Giulia Carbonaro, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 July 2025
  • One of the biggest shifts since the time of Rose is that far fewer Americans are worried about this potential problem.
    Harry Enten, CNN Money, 11 July 2025
Adjective
  • Outlook: Stability or Strain? Oil markets in 2024 were defined by an uneasy equilibrium.
    Robert Rapier, Forbes.com, 8 July 2025
  • Given that uneasy reminder, the small victory ultimately won by King and his followers is even more extraordinary and potent.
    Sophie van Bastelaer, EW.com, 7 July 2025
Adjective
  • The actress, 32, spoke with PEOPLE on the red carpet at the Los Angeles premiere of her new film Smurfs and shared that her kids — son Kingston, 4, and daughter Jackson, 2 — are going to be very excited to see their mom on the big screen.
    Hannah Sacks, People.com, 14 July 2025
  • Why some tattoo artists push back against AI tattoo machines Of course, not everyone is excited about this change.
    Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 14 July 2025
Adjective
  • Then there's the real world, which is entirely different, so in reality people have nothing to be nervous about.
    Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 12 July 2025
  • The odds of a recession may be falling, but states appear to be betting that corporate leaders are still nervous.
    Scott Cohn, CNBC, 12 July 2025
Adjective
  • Scientists have found a new way to cheat the system – which is both ingenious and disturbing.
    Cornelia C. Walther, Forbes.com, 12 July 2025
  • Depictions of nuclear war became more serious and disturbing, breaking Hollywood conventions about happy endings.
    Tom Nichols, The Atlantic, 10 July 2025
Adjective
  • Comprised mostly of phishing, but also malware, threats, the domains in question have been created by cybercriminals seeking to benefit from the high media profile of Prime Day and the anticipated flood of consumers eager to grab a bargain.
    Davey Winder, Forbes.com, 2 July 2025
  • The family were eager Catholics: his mother, a school librarian, sang in the choir, as did young Robert.
    Belinda Luscombe, Time, 1 July 2025
Adjective
  • What changed at Sharon Place and why are owners upset? Sharon Place, which includes over 70 condos, has always had a pet weight limit written into its governing documents, Emehel said.
    Nora O’Neill July 8, Charlotte Observer, 8 July 2025
  • With less than 30 seconds to go in the game, and both teams tied at 77, Reese walked off the court visibly upset during a timeout.
    Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 8 July 2025
Adjective
  • The coach withdrew him just after the hour mark against PSG and the cameras caught the forward looking tense and concerned on the bench.
    Mario Cortegana, New York Times, 10 July 2025
  • Eyewitness accounts reported that the sweltering temperatures, along with swarms of flies from a nearby stable, contributed to a tense atmosphere and slowed down debate.
    Marianne Krasny, Forbes.com, 10 July 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Anxious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/anxious. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on anxious

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!