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

On the opposite sideline, Trimble Tech Head Coach MK Hamilton entered the season with a more experienced roster and was excited about the leadership his veteran players bring.

— Riley Ledesma, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Aug. 2026
The Atlanta native is excited to carry his dreams and the family name forward.

— PJ Green August 28, Kansas City Star, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of excited

Adjective

Off set, Curry was an avid horticulturalist and worked on gardens across his own residences as well as in the homes of friends—among them, Freddie Mercury.

— Irene Borger, Architectural Digest, 26 Aug. 2026
The strong first half comes as Lego continues to expand its product catalog, capturing new customers and retaining its already avid fan base of brick builders.

— Sarah Whitten, CNBC, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of avid

Adjective

Bell, however, couldn’t be more enthusiastic for the opportunity.

— Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 30 Aug. 2026
The other clock hiding inside it The TC001 has attracted an enthusiastic home-automation following because it can be used with AWTRIX, an open-source firmware and ecosystem designed around small LED matrix displays.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of enthusiastic

Adjective

Netflix has worked assiduously to burnish its reputation as a home for advertisers seeking to align themselves with its popular programs and eager to avoid the traditional model of deploying typical 30-second commercials.

— Brian Steinberg, Variety, 26 Aug. 2026
Thanks to hundreds of millions of dollars invested into their respective football teams by eager boosters, both SMU and Texas Tech have jumped ahead of everyone else in this state for the best view of UT and A&M’s backsides.

— Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of eager

Adjective

Inter Miami is hungry to get back on track after the recent slump.

— Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 28 Aug. 2026
The continent's sweltering summer has meanwhile boosted demand for air conditioning and other energy-hungry appliances at a time when demand for gas, widely used for Europe's heating and cooking needs, naturally falls.

— Jenni Reid, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of hungry

Adjective

Southern Nevada has already dramatically reduced its use of Colorado River water by about 40% over the last 25 years, including by aggressively promoting the removal of thirsty grass and outlawing front-yard lawns for new subdivisions.

— Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 24 Aug. 2026
Add the cost of tires, consumables, a thirsty engine, and the fact that cars are all so ludicrously expensive to begin with these days, and soon the whole thing starts to look unsustainable.

— Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of thirsty

Adjective

Mazloum announced the yeti repair — as well as the return of fan-favorite characters Dreamfinder and Figment to Epcot in Florida and an overhaul of Tomorrowland in California — to some of Disney's most ardent fans on Saturday.

— Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 18 Aug. 2026
Several of his most ardent supporters who attended Friday’s hearing were seen weeping in the courtroom benches.

— Molly Crane-Newman, New York Daily News, 14 Aug. 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.

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atheists

athirst

athletic

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“Athirst.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/athirst. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of athirst

adjective

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