Definition of athirstnext

Synonym Chooser

How is the word athirst distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of athirst are anxious, avid, eager, and keen. While all these words mean "moved by a strong and urgent desire or interest," athirst stresses yearning but not necessarily readiness for action.

athirst for adventure

When might anxious be a better fit than athirst?

The synonyms anxious and athirst are sometimes interchangeable, but anxious emphasizes fear of frustration or failure or disappointment.

anxious not to make a social blunder

How do avid and eager relate to one another, in the sense of athirst?

Avid adds to eager the implication of insatiability or greed.

avid for new thrills

In what contexts can eager take the place of athirst?

The meanings of eager and athirst largely overlap; however, eager implies ardor and enthusiasm and sometimes impatience at delay or restraint.

eager to get started

When would keen be a good substitute for athirst?

In some situations, the words keen and athirst are roughly equivalent. However, keen suggests intensity of interest and quick responsiveness in action.

keen on the latest fashions

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for athirst
Adjective
  • Players such as Spurs guard De'Aaron Fox and Knicks forward OG Anunoby don't sound nearly as excited.
    Alejandro Avila, FOXNews.com, 9 June 2026
  • Studiously moderated, but excited, voices amplified news of the actual invasion of Europe read hastily in Orlando Morning Sentinel.
    Orlando Sentinel Staff, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 June 2026
Adjective
  • Mage — himself an avid collector — said that emotional connection was intentional from the beginning.
    Thomas Waller, Footwear News, 4 June 2026
  • The original shoes were gifted to her by LeBron James — a newly avid golfer and fan of Korda’s — but the spacing in them felt roomier than her everyday pair.
    Gabby Herzig, New York Times, 4 June 2026
Adjective
  • The first memorandum approval was enthusiastic.
    Nicolas Villamil, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 May 2026
  • Petro cited this statement at a public rally to enthusiastic applause.
    Roberto Andrés, The Dial, 28 May 2026
Adjective
  • The arch spans 78 feet and rises 65 feet high, drawing hikers eager to experience one of the region’s most striking landmarks.
    USA TODAY Network, USA Today, 10 June 2026
  • Even the president’s son is eager to find true love.
    Allison DeGrushe, StyleCaster, 9 June 2026
Adjective
  • Hummingbirds are hungry little creatures.
    Rita Pelczar, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 May 2026
  • Zaeem Jafri won the Food category with his image of steaming dumplings and hungry customers at a food stall in Seoul.
    Sam Peters, CNN Money, 29 May 2026
Adjective
  • At one end is the anxious, under‑saved retiree doing everything possible to stretch limited assets.
    Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 7 June 2026
  • During the first week of the cell phone ban at my school, students were anxious about losing the constant stream of their music, the ability to maintain instant communication with friends, and the immediate access to their social media feeds.
    Sarah Said, Chicago Tribune, 5 June 2026
Adjective
  • The lightweight formula combines hyaluronic acid to quench thirsty skin, niacinamide to smooth and brighten, and the brand’s signature herbal blend—featuring ingredients like oat, calendula, and chickweed—to keep skin feeling fresh and comfortably hydrated.
    Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 27 May 2026
  • Gardeners also know that keeping plants, grass, and garden beds watered and thriving through the Southern summer heat can be nothing short of a challenge, which is exactly why the Rainpoint Programmable Water Timer is a boon to thirsty plants.
    Rebecca Jones, Southern Living, 27 May 2026
Adjective
  • Weston loved to ‘embed himself in different cultures’ Weston’s mother, Nancy Higginbotham, described him as an ardent protector of the environment and a wanderer who loved to travel and enjoy nature.
    Rebekah Riess, CNN Money, 6 June 2026
  • Mueller has campaigned on his response to the urgent housing and water needs of the coastal communities, while Jimenez has contrasted himself against Mueller with his background as a farmworker and an ardent activist for coastal rural communities in the county.
    Chase Hunter, Mercury News, 3 June 2026
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.

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Cite this Entry

“Athirst.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/athirst. Accessed 12 Jun. 2026.

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