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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of anxious
Now that the current school year — her third with this particular family — is drawing to a close, the OP is anxious about her financial situation.
—
Erin Clack, People.com, 31 May 2025
The business owners who depend on migrant work — many of them supporters of President Trump — feel anxious about the prospect of losing a crucial labor force.
—Ana Ley, New York Times, 30 May 2025
As state and federal Medicaid cuts loom, Hoosiers are anxious about the impact
Jordan Musenbrock, 35, said Medicaid helped pay for her manual wheelchair and its repairs, shower chair, catheters and several medications.
—Chicago Tribune, 27 May 2025
In the novel’s historical re-creation, is there an anxious note to Americans now losing themselves in accommodation?
—David Denby, New Yorker, 23 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for anxious
Erin Clack, People.com, 31 May 2025
The business owners who depend on migrant work — many of them supporters of President Trump — feel anxious about the prospect of losing a crucial labor force.
—Ana Ley, New York Times, 30 May 2025
As state and federal Medicaid cuts loom, Hoosiers are anxious about the impact
Jordan Musenbrock, 35, said Medicaid helped pay for her manual wheelchair and its repairs, shower chair, catheters and several medications.
—Chicago Tribune, 27 May 2025
In the novel’s historical re-creation, is there an anxious note to Americans now losing themselves in accommodation?
—David Denby, New Yorker, 23 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for anxious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for anxious
Adjective
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Georgia, too, is worried about Ginny's behind-the-scenes machinations.—
Randall Colburn,
EW.com,
7 June 2025
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While Republicans in Congress have been pushing for major Medicaid cuts in the new budget, many Medicaid enrollees are worried about what this means for their health coverage — including those who identify as Republican.—
Suzanne Blake,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 June 2025
Adjective
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In the wake of multiple plane crashes, and amid erratic federal policies and denials and detentions at border crossings, summer travel in the U.S. is in an uneasy state.—
Kevinisha Walker,
Los Angeles Times,
2 June 2025
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The opening moments cement its tonal dissonance as, with a twang of Daniel Kowalski’s spare, uneasy score, a brief prologue with fire, a flailing figure and mutterings about Satan snaps to a far more banal view of an empty street lined with dim, shuttered houses under a low, gray sky.—
Jessica Kiang,
Variety,
30 May 2025
Adjective
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That had Vidovic excited about placing this team at the top of the state’s history list.—
Jeff Vorva,
Chicago Tribune,
8 June 2025
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Kids might be excited about the end of the school year and for summer to begin, but many working parents who don’t know how to fill their kids’ long summer days may be feeling some dread right about now.—
Medora Lee,
USA Today,
8 June 2025
Adjective
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The video highlighted how visibly nervous Jessie was while using jokes to get through the show.—
Tomás Mier,
Rolling Stone,
6 June 2025
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There’s nothing to be nervous about going into a spray tan.—
Catharine Malzahn,
Glamour,
5 June 2025
Adjective
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The withdrawn teen obsessively draws dark spiders in class and shows a disturbing fixation on news reports of school shootings.—
Peter Debruge,
Variety,
6 June 2025
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His disturbing legacy drew the attention of filmmaker and former HBO executive Kary Antholis, who had followed the case for decades.—
JP Mangalindan,
Time,
4 June 2025
Adjective
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And fans also will be eager to watch the team play again.—
Pete Grathoff,
Kansas City Star,
28 May 2025
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Against this backdrop of uncertainty, Dawkins is eager to get back on the court.—
Matt Murschel,
The Orlando Sentinel,
28 May 2025
Adjective
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Local fans were also upset at how ticketing was organised, with empty seats in temporary stands at their Montilivi ground for most games.—
The Athletic UK Staff,
New York Times,
2 June 2025
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When the Eaton and Palisades fires sparked in January — respectively the second- and third-most destructive in California history — familiarity, friend groups and routines were upset for Emory and many of her peers.—
Emma Bowman,
NPR,
2 June 2025
Adjective
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But recently, her videos detailing her tense, hours-long encounter with Customs at MIA went viral.—
Amanda Rosa,
Miami Herald,
4 June 2025
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The lunch came at a tense time for the family as Patterson's relationship with her estranged husband had been deteriorating.—
Chloe Mayer,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Anxious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/anxious. Accessed 12 Jun. 2025.
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