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
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
For anyone who's feeling stuck and anxious, and is looking for new hobbies to explore, Ferriss recommends starting with something easy — like seeking out a local game night, or finding a chess partner.
—
Tom Huddleston Jr., CNBC, 25 June 2025
Gunter, who speaks to Queen nearly every day, said the 20-year-old is anxious to find his next home.
—Sam Jane, Baltimore Sun, 24 June 2025
In the show’s first three episodes, the editing moves faster and faster along three separate narratives as the runtime reaches its end, raising the stakes while making the audience anxious for the next cut.
—Rafael Motamayor, Vulture, 23 June 2025
In the Bay Area, restaurant owners and industry groups are anxious and bracing for possible impact on their workers and businesses.
—Calmatters, Mercury News, 20 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for anxious
Tom Huddleston Jr., CNBC, 25 June 2025
Gunter, who speaks to Queen nearly every day, said the 20-year-old is anxious to find his next home.
—Sam Jane, Baltimore Sun, 24 June 2025
In the show’s first three episodes, the editing moves faster and faster along three separate narratives as the runtime reaches its end, raising the stakes while making the audience anxious for the next cut.
—Rafael Motamayor, Vulture, 23 June 2025
In the Bay Area, restaurant owners and industry groups are anxious and bracing for possible impact on their workers and businesses.
—Calmatters, Mercury News, 20 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for anxious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for anxious
Adjective
-
But even in a Congress filled with newcomers, the memory of 2018 (and its electoral fallout for a beleaguered GOP) should be fresh enough to keep people worried.—
Joseph Thorndike,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2025
-
As Republicans work to pass President Donald Trump's reconciliation bill by his July 4 deadline, many are worried about the changes that could be coming to Medicaid.—
Mary Kekatos,
ABC News,
30 June 2025
Adjective
-
Edan Lui of Hong Kong boy band Mirror will also make his Korean drama debut in the new season, joining the cast in a role that pairs him in an uneasy alliance with Kim Do-gi.—
Patrick Brzeski,
HollywoodReporter,
25 June 2025
-
Repeatedly returning to themes of globalization and alienation, the 55-year-old director has meticulously chronicled his country’s uneasy plunge into the 21st century as rampant industrialization risks deadening those left behind.—
Tim Grierson,
Los Angeles Times,
20 June 2025
Adjective
-
In the comment section, fans were excited to see an intimate piece of her life.—
Ingrid Vasquez,
People.com,
1 July 2025
-
According to recent research from the global consumer research platform, GWI, 60% of consumers are excited for the further development of AI tools.—
Gary Drenik,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2025
Adjective
-
But with Wirtz, there was suddenly an effort not to do that; the media got nervous about calling it a record.—
Zak Garner-Purkis,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2025
-
Watching his son evolve from a 4-star recruit out of Columbus High School in Miami to an eventual first-round pick out of Michigan State, Richardson doesn’t get too nervous or overly excited when Jase is on the court.—
Jason Beede,
The Orlando Sentinel,
30 June 2025
Adjective
-
In demand filmmaker Kim Tae-joon, who wrote and directed the disturbing tech thriller Unlocked for the streamer, is back with another feature that is sure to linger with its audience.—
Abid Rahman,
HollywoodReporter,
1 July 2025
-
Many of these videos follow a disturbing but familiar pattern—the extraction and erasure of Black women’s genius, creativity, and contributions.—
Janice Gassam Asare,
Forbes.com,
1 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
-
The heated encounter occurred outside a building, as Hannah-Kim appeared visibly upset about the situation and wanted an explanation for Kove’s actions.—
Stephanie Giang-Paunon,
FOXNews.com,
26 June 2025
-
In what many pundits considered an upset, Tordillos eventually overcame a slight deficit on election night to overtake Matthew Quevedo, San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan’s deputy chief of staff, by six votes.—
Devan Patel,
Mercury News,
25 June 2025
Adjective
-
Negotiations on this year’s New York City government budget are coming down to the wire — with several sticking points remaining as talks turned tense Thursday between City Council Democrats and Mayor Adams’ administration, according to sources familiar with the matter.—
Chris Sommerfeldt,
New York Daily News,
26 June 2025
-
At the core of Athens’ defense spending motivations is its tense and fractious relationship with fellow NATO ally Turkey.—
Sophie Kiderlin,
CNBC,
25 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Anxious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/anxious. Accessed 11 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share