ATHIRST Synonyms: 86 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

athirst

adjective

ə-ˈthərst

Definition of athirst

as in excited

showing urgent desire or interest was athirst for any news at all about family members serving in the war zone

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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

Everyone is excited for the vacation, except for Shannon and Carmella, who both have valid reasons.

— Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 9 Oct. 2026
Prosecutors have said Birchmore was excited about her pregnancy and gave Farwell updates about her due date, ultrasounds, doctor appointments and a gender reveal.

— Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of excited

Adjective

Downtown restaurant Kato, a repeat on the World’s 50 Best list in recent years, was an early and enthusiastic adopter of NA pairings.

— Gary Baum, HollywoodReporter, 11 Oct. 2026
The ire of everyday citizens continues to increase against a backdrop of enthusiastic and deep-pocketed Wall Street investors betting artificial intelligence is the economic engine of the future.

— Kevin Williams, CNBC, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of enthusiastic

Adjective

The service Everyone on staff is friendly and eager to assist.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Oct. 2026
Data center builders, semiconductor companies, power providers and cybersecurity firms are far less constrained, according to Cramer, because lenders remain eager to finance their growth.

— Alexa LoMonaco, CNBC, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of eager

Adjective

Last week, Google’s Project Suncatcher launched a refrigerator-sized satellite carrying four AI chips into orbit on a SpaceX rocket, in an early test of whether the technology behind today’s power-hungry data centers could someday operate in space.

— Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune, 10 Oct. 2026
The incident is indicative of a growing problem in the Asheville area, involving humans giving hungry bears easy access to a buffet of tasty trash, experts say.

— Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of hungry

Adjective

An adorable pup in Louisiana was anxious to swim into rising Gulf of Mexico waters, doing a stationary doggie paddle while being carried through a flood during Hurricane Isaias.

— Erika Angulo, NBC news, 11 Oct. 2026
Down at Advanced Base Camp on the Tibetan side, the anxious Indian team could see two headlamps light up their descent high on the mountain.

— Helen Regan, CNN Money, 10 Oct. 2026

Definition of anxious

Adjective

The former is defined by a lack of oils, where your skin barrier is thirsty for fats that make skin feel hydrated, bouncy, and happy.

— Kara Nesvig, Allure, 2 Oct. 2026
Attendance grew with each subsequent show, and eventually nearly 200 people thirsty for jazz consistently showed up to her tattoo studio for music.

— Mary Carreon, Los Angeles Times, 30 Sep. 2026

Definition of thirsty

Adjective

Germany has been one of the most ardent supporters of Ukraine since the early days of the Russian invasion, supplying both military and financial aid.

— Yuliya Talmazan, NBC news, 5 Oct. 2026
Which one of these subtle, touching novels is guaranteed to live up to my ardent report?

— Lola Seaton, The New York Review of Books, 3 Oct. 2026

Definition of ardent

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.

Browse Nearby Words

atheists

athirst

athletic

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

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Synonyms of athirst

adjective

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