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 Politically, Trump is torn between the anti-war MAGA faction and traditional Republicans, who are eager to intervene. Jonathan Easley, The Hill, 20 June 2025 While many crypto executives are eager to hype up the latest token or trend, Ali is focused on the picks and shovels: the infrastructure. Mohammed Sergie, semafor.com, 20 June 2025 Only Alain seems eager to ignore the disinformation and embrace this Potemkin village as the real deal (except when his eyes show a gathering concern). Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 20 June 2025 Today’s graduates and students are eager to grow their skillset around AI, Franklin noted. Brit Morse, Fortune, 19 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for eager
Recent Examples of Synonyms for eager
Adjective
  • From there, fans were excited about the existence of an unreleased song between the two Colombian stars, who confirmed their romantic relationship in 2023.
    Maya Georgi, Rolling Stone, 20 June 2025
  • His uncle is clearly excited and expecting big things from him.
    Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 June 2025
Adjective
  • The 33-year-old state assemblyman has ensnared a wide net of seasoned billionaires and enthusiastic young activists, presented as a regular New Yorker who lived in Africa as a child.
    Alexandra Bregman, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
  • Diamond and her husband were enthusiastic volunteers since the 1990s for a local historic preservation organization, Historic Boulder, Inc.
    Colleen Slevin, Chicago Tribune, 30 June 2025
Adjective
  • Trump has been an avid proponent of reshoring U.S. manufacturing, using tariffs as a leverage to convince companies to build plants in the U.S. and attacking Apple for manufacturing its iPhones in Asia.
    Danny Bakst, Fortune, 26 June 2025
  • Residents who live near a fishing location, spend a lot of time near the water or are avid boaters are encouraged to get involved.
    Joe Rassel, The Orlando Sentinel, 25 June 2025
Adjective
  • But perhaps the most persuasive testimony came from Mrs. Hall herself, who embodied the defense’s portrait of a loyal, unsuspecting wife, home alone and anxious over her husband’s mysterious disappearance.
    Jordan Runtagh, People.com, 27 June 2025
  • Other dogs, especially those that are anxious or suffer from separation anxiety, might find comfort in your scent.
    Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 June 2025
Adjective
  • The first is that in the context of ‘zero fiscal space’ the constraints imposed by high levels of debt and deficits, will drive new splits within parties, for example between those who are keen to spend more on defence, versus those who wish to preserve social welfare safety nets.
    Mike O'Sullivan, Forbes.com, 28 June 2025
  • The director was also keen to flex about his new theater’s impressive hardware.
    Matt Donnelly, Variety, 27 June 2025

Cite this Entry

“Eager.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/eager. Accessed 4 Jul. 2025.

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