Definition of eagernext

Synonym Chooser

How is the word eager distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of eager are anxious, athirst, avid, and keen. While all these words mean "moved by a strong and urgent desire or interest," eager implies ardor and enthusiasm and sometimes impatience at delay or restraint.

eager to get started

When might anxious be a better fit than eager?

The words anxious and eager can be used in similar contexts, but anxious emphasizes fear of frustration or failure or disappointment.

anxious not to make a social blunder

When can athirst be used instead of eager?

The synonyms athirst and eager are sometimes interchangeable, but athirst stresses yearning but not necessarily readiness for action.

athirst for adventure

How are the words avid and eager related?

Avid adds to eager the implication of insatiability or greed.

avid for new thrills

Where would keen be a reasonable alternative to eager?

While in some cases nearly identical to eager, keen suggests intensity of interest and quick responsiveness in action.

keen on the latest fashions

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 eager Republicans, meanwhile, are not eager to advertise that their Senate majority is wobbling like a shopping cart with a bad wheel. Arkansas Online, 24 Mar. 2026 Readers eager to get their hands on this one will need to sit tight. Hanna Wickes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Mar. 2026 Sources said the pair were eager to reteam following their success with that title and found the 13 Going on 30 reboot to be the perfect opportunity, eyeing Lerman as Bader’s romantic counterpart from the jump. Matt Grobar, Deadline, 24 Mar. 2026 But the recent run for originality — at the Oscars and the multiplex — suggests audiences may be more eager for something different from the same old. ABC News, 24 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for eager
Recent Examples of Synonyms for eager
Adjective
  • Meanwhile, Dan is excited about his new collaboration with Ben Affleck.
    William Earl, Variety, 23 Mar. 2026
  • This morning, my daughter woke up incredibly excited.
    Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 22 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • Organizers said sign-ups have been especially enthusiastic in suburban areas with high-profile congressional races like Scottsdale, Arizona; Langhorne, Pennsylvania; East Cobb, Georgia; and here in northern New Jersey’s 11th district, which holds a special election April 7.
    Steve Peoples, Fortune, 26 Mar. 2026
  • So enthusiastic that they were invited back to perform at the 2025 MusicCares, which honored the Grateful Dead.
    George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • He was described as an avid outdoorsman, a diver and a motorcycle rider, and as a devoted family man who was deeply committed to his Catholic faith.
    Ray Campos, CBS News, 20 Mar. 2026
  • The college junior was also an avid hockey player, his uncle said.
    Elizabeth Wolfe, CNN Money, 20 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • The forthcoming guide, which education officials have described as a first step toward a more comprehensive handbook to be issued at a later date, is coming as families and teachers are deeply divided and anxious about the potential — and pitfalls — of the new technology.
    Cayla Bamberger, New York Daily News, 23 Mar. 2026
  • The promise was also made that the songs would speak to, and/or distract from, the anxious state of the world.
    Chris Willman, Variety, 23 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • David’s view The voters most keen to talk with political reporters are, typically, extremely engaged in politics.
    David Weigel, semafor.com, 26 Mar. 2026
  • But Ikea forecasts even faster expansion, expecting the market to hit $48 billion by 2030 — momentum the company is keen to capture.
    Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 26 Mar. 2026

Cite this Entry

“Eager.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/eager. Accessed 28 Mar. 2026.

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