Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

Thesaurus

anxious

adjective

Synonyms and Antonyms of anxious

1 feeling or showing uncomfortable feelings of uncertainty
  • was anxious about the play tryouts scheduled for the following day
Synonyms of anxious

aflutter, antsy, atwitter, dithery, edgy, goosey, het up, hinky [slang], hung up, ill at ease, insecure, jittery, jumpy, nervous, nervy, perturbed, queasy (also queazy), tense, troubled, uneasy, unquiet, upset, uptight, worried
Words Related to anxious

aggrieved, bothered, concerned, disquieted, distraught, distressed, disturbed, freaked, freaked-out, shook-up

apprehensive, foreboding, hesitant, misgiving

fretful, fretting, stewing, vexed

qualmish, qualmy

flustered, twittered, undone, unnerved, unstrung

obsessed, preoccupied, restless

fidgety, flighty, fluttery, high-strung, hypertense, skittish, spooky
Phrases Synonymous with anxious

keyed up, on edge, on pins and needles, on tenterhooks
Near Antonyms of anxious

confident, self-assured, self-confident, sure

controlled, self-controlled
Antonyms of anxious

calm, collected, cool, easy, happy-go-lucky, nerveless, relaxed
2 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 of anxious

agitating, creepy, disquieting, distressful, distressing, disturbing, fraught, hairy, nail-biting, nerve-racking (or nerve-wracking), nervous, restless, tense, uneasy, unnerving, unsettling, worrisome
Words Related to anxious

bothersome, troublesome

foreboding, misgiving

discouraging, disheartening, strained

restive, restless, unrestful

awkward, embarrassing
Near Antonyms of anxious

restful

pacific
Antonyms of anxious

calming, comfortable, easy, peaceful, quiet, quieting, tranquil
3 showing urgent desire or interest
  • I'm anxious for my birthday party
Synonyms of anxious

agog, antsy, ardent, athirst, avid, crazy, desirous, eager, enthused, enthusiastic, excited, geeked [slang], great, greedy, gung ho, hepped up, hopped-up, hot, hungry, impatient, juiced, keen, nuts, pumped, raring, solicitous, stoked [slang], thirsty, voracious, wild
Words Related to anxious

engaged, interested

happy, hung up, obsessed

ambitious, appetent, covetous, craving, hankering, longing, pining

breathless, restive, restless

amenable, disposed, game, glad, inclined, ready, unreluctant, willing
Phrases Synonymous with anxious

champing at the bit, chomping at the bit
Near Antonyms of anxious

casual, incurious, insouciant, nonchalant, unconcerned, uninterested

aloof, detached, disinterested

impassive, stolid

halfhearted, lackadaisical, languid, languorous, lukewarm, spiritless

averse, disinclined, hesitant, loath (also loth), reluctant, unwilling
Antonyms of anxious

apathetic, indifferent, uneager, unenthusiastic

Synonym Discussion of 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

Learn More about anxious

  1. Dictionary: Definition of anxious Medical Dictionary: Definition of anxious Spanish Central: Translation of anxious Nglish: Translation of anxious for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of anxious for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up anxious? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show comments hide comments

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

WORD OF THE DAY

apotheosis

the perfect form or example of something

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. feckless Former RNC chair derides Trump

  2. emergency, national emergency Trump declares crisis over wall

  3. apoplectic Bezos writes post about Pecker

SEE ALL

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games