1
as in worried
feeling or showing uncomfortable feelings of uncertainty
was anxious about the play tryouts scheduled for the following day
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of anxious
Trump advisers on Sunday sought to assure anxious Americans that surging fuel prices are a short-term problem.
—
Josh Boak, Chicago Tribune, 8 Mar. 2026
This is about anxious characters with broken hearts, about strangers reaching out to each other, about loss and imperfect love.
—The Know, Denver Post, 8 Mar. 2026
Nonetheless, Bale is completely acceptable as Demetrius, an anxious young man engaged to one woman (Calista Flockhart) but in love with another (Anna Friel).
—Tim Grierson, Vulture, 7 Mar. 2026
The weaker than expected jobs report comes as Americans are already anxious about the high cost of living.
—Scott Horsley, NPR, 6 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for anxious
Josh Boak, Chicago Tribune, 8 Mar. 2026
This is about anxious characters with broken hearts, about strangers reaching out to each other, about loss and imperfect love.
—The Know, Denver Post, 8 Mar. 2026
Nonetheless, Bale is completely acceptable as Demetrius, an anxious young man engaged to one woman (Calista Flockhart) but in love with another (Anna Friel).
—Tim Grierson, Vulture, 7 Mar. 2026
The weaker than expected jobs report comes as Americans are already anxious about the high cost of living.
—Scott Horsley, NPR, 6 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for anxious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for anxious
Adjective
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His first attempt was aborted after a phone call with his worried mother, and the second and third attempts were derailed because the team officials suspected his intentions and dropped him from the squad.—
Don Riddell,
CNN Money,
12 Mar. 2026
-
Easy-to-install solar panels that plug into a regular outlet are getting attention just as Americans are worried about rising energy costs.—
Jeff Brady,
NPR,
12 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Many travelers feel 'uneasy' about going abroad.—
Kathleen Wong,
USA Today,
9 Mar. 2026
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The United States and Israel’s widening war with Iran has stricken an already uneasy global economy with a new bout of uncertainty.—
Mirtha Donastorg,
AJC.com,
4 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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That’ll make everybody excited to compete against them.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
9 Mar. 2026
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As curator, my goal is to create exhibitions for our artists that provide them with the freedom to experiment and get excited about new ideas, and expand the idea of what art is and can be for our patrons.—
Ray Mark Rinaldi,
Denver Post,
9 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The across-the-board beat may help settle a nervous investor base, at least for the time being, as Oracle’s results and backlog point to a continuing surge in demand for AI infrastructure.—
Jordan Novet,
CNBC,
10 Mar. 2026
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Projections by Paramount’s management team that at least $6 billion in cost savings will result from the merger have made all of Hollywood nervous, but especially the workforce at WBD.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
10 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Though intensely disturbing, a scene where a TV shows a distorted iteration of a character that Ohm watched as a kid rings out of place, even if the context involves his mother’s tragic passing.—
Carlos Aguilar,
Variety,
15 Mar. 2026
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If true, this is obviously disturbing.—
Letters to the Editor,
The Orlando Sentinel,
15 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The firefighters shrugged him off and seemed eager to finish the assignment.—
Alene Tchekmedyian,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Mar. 2026
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Pembroke Pines Commissioners Tom Good and Mike Hernandez won reelection Tuesday despite a challenge from rivals eager to represent Broward County’s second most populous city.—
Susannah Bryan,
Sun Sentinel,
11 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Tewksbury looks to avenge both the loss to Canton earlier, and an upset state final loss to Boston Latin in 2024.—
Tom Mulherin,
Boston Herald,
14 Mar. 2026
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Watching the Chinese Taipei team in tears after an upset win against Korea, and the Japanese fans embracing Czechia’s every grain of success — the moments that made Pool C special were with teams actively growing the game in their country through those brick-by-brick means.—
Maria Torres,
New York Times,
14 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The atmosphere in El Portal Village Hall was tense during the 2 1/2-hour meeting that took place days after the demolition.—
Catherine Odom,
Miami Herald,
14 Mar. 2026
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The World Baseball Classic rolls on, and Team USA lives to see another day after a tense first few innings spent watching Team Italy and Mexico on Wednesday.—
Johnny Flores Jr,
New York Times,
14 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Anxious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/anxious. Accessed 17 Mar. 2026.
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