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
  • The more companies move in this direction, the more consumers will be singing the praises of AI -- and feeling not only satisfied, but excited about returning to the brand in the future.
    Tomas Gorny, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2025
  • A lot of fans and people in tennis are excited about (João) Fonseca.
    Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Brown was an avid fitness enthusiast and amateur body builder who regularly worked out at Anytime Fitness in Forest Lake, Glader said.
    Mary Divine, Twin Cities, 13 Aug. 2025
  • Booth is an avid donor to both KU and the University of Chicago and previously donated $50 million to KU football in 2017.
    Shreyas Laddha, Kansas City Star, 13 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Audiences were almost as enthusiastic awarding it 91% which explains why its views surged.
    Caroline Reid, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2025
  • The new school year kicked off at R. Roger Rowe School on Aug. 11, an enthusiastic welcome back that included a fun photo station for student arrivals, big smiles and helping hands from teachers and greetings from the school mascot.
    Karen Billing, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • After the first four episodes of the show’s new installment were released on Wednesday, Aug. 6, fans were eager to see the singer, 39, in her guest starring role.
    Liza Esquibias, People.com, 6 Aug. 2025
  • It’s created a new market opportunity for brands eager to peddle protein-forward products to this growing demographic.
    Boutayna Chokrane, Wired News, 6 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • What they’re really known for, though, is their grass-fed, local beef burgers and hearty portions—so make sure to come hungry.
    Angela Lian, Travel + Leisure, 15 Aug. 2025
  • What hungry kids really need is better politicians, served up with a side of common sense and a dash of compassion.
    Pat Beall, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • The vices of deficiency, such as being anxious, agitated, impatient, inattentive, and rash, are common everyday experiences.
    Mary Crossan, Forbes.com, 16 Aug. 2025
  • Orange County students are returning to class this month as districts navigate an anxious back-to-school season shaped by immigration raids over the summer and the possibility that attendance drops could cut into school funding.
    Hanna Kang, Oc Register, 15 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Despite our planet’s famously blue appearance from space, thirsty aliens would be disappointed.
    Elizabeth Rayne, ArsTechnica, 26 July 2025
  • One thirsty dog has gained attention online for its tactics to get to the water bowl first.
    Maria Morava, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 July 2025
Adjective
  • Toyota’s public image took a beating, alienating some of its most ardent supporters.
    Mark Phelan, USA Today, 15 Aug. 2025
  • Now, Trump’s most ardent supporters—from Wall Street to the studios of Fox News—fill the seats next to him.
    Kyle Khan-Mullins, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2025
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 22 Aug. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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