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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 And as Brown’s book races toward its elaborate climax, his (and Langdon’s) breathless effusions about the neuro-technological progress that awaits us sound jarringly out of sync with the anxious, doomy present. Book Marks september 11, Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 2025 This year, couples in this category are especially anxious. Viola Kosome, NPR, 11 Sep. 2025 And, in a July survey from Northwestern Mutual, 69% of respondents said financial uncertainty has led them to feel depressed and anxious — an increase of 8 points from 2023. Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 10 Sep. 2025 At a moment when artificial intelligence dominates headlines — and many are anxious that machines might soon replace human creativity — Fletcher insists on the profound difference between algorithm and imagination. Big Think, 9 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for anxious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for anxious
Adjective
  • Small business owners, who rely on social media to promote and sell their products, were especially worried with a busy festive season looming.
    Nir Kshetri, The Conversation, 14 Sep. 2025
  • Parents are worried not just about getting food on the table, but whether that food is good for their kids.
    Yasmin Tayag, The Atlantic, 14 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Handing spending power to a piece of software makes people uneasy.
    Ron Schmelzer, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
  • An uneasy calm, after two nights of chaos that saw tens of thousands of people pour out into the streets to vent their fury, setting fire to parliament and the Supreme Court – key symbols of state – and clashing with the government forces sent to keep them under control.
    Lex Harvey, CNN Money, 10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • This year’s Fall Preview consists of all the entertainment — from TV to video games to theater — that Vulture writers and editors are excited to consume this season.
    Justin Davidson, Vulture, 10 Sep. 2025
  • The inclusion created viral moments around social media with BLACKPINK’s global fanbase excited to see the song’s inclusion and the Shazam charts showing clear curiosity from viewers to find out more about the music.
    Jeff Benjamin, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • FurHaven Calming Cuddler Donut Pet Bed A fluffy bed that surrounds your dog with warmth can be great for relieving anxiety and calming down a nervous pet.
    Rachel Trujillo, PEOPLE, 10 Sep. 2025
  • Even with the mixed indications for winter golf, course owners are nervous, NCGOA CEO Jay Karen said on a video call.
    Brendan Coffey, Sportico.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Fortunately, there are straightforward ways to reduce your chances of being confronted with violent or disturbing videos.
    Annie Margaret, CNN Money, 13 Sep. 2025
  • Celebrating the assassination of a 31 year old father of two young kids is disturbing; that teachers would be among those who do so is completely unacceptable.
    Amy DeLaura, The Washington Examiner, 12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • These water signs are adaptable and eager team players, so help siblings dress up as a school of fish or as a peppy cheer squad that will bring everyone’s feelings up.
    Ella Cerón, Parents, 16 Sep. 2025
  • As always, Fonda was eager to gush about Redford’s looks, charm and shared interests.
    Martha Ross, Mercury News, 16 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Danni-Elle Townsend, who’s made a solid impression in PPA internationals this year, was upset in the first round by 43-yr old qualifier and eventual Bronze medalist from Japan Rika Fujiwara, a former WTA tennis pro who toured for more than 20 years before retiring from Tennis in 2020.
    Todd Boss, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
  • Mourners, many of whom were visibly upset and wearing Walmart uniforms, placed electric candles at the memorial.
    Amanda Rosa, Miami Herald, 10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Following a tense summit in July hosted by Beijing, European Union chief Ursula von der Leyen said that leaders had agreed to an improved mechanism for Chinese exports of rare earth minerals to the bloc.
    Preston Fore, Fortune, 17 Sep. 2025
  • After an announcement trailer back in May, many were wondering whether this tense first-person action-horror game would disembark on the current-gen Xbox consoles as well.
    Fran Ruiz, Space.com, 16 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Anxious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/anxious. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.

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