Synonyms of eager

eager 1 of 2

adjective

ˈē-gər 

as in excited

showing urgent desire or interest

Tom was eager to try out his new pair of skis

Synonyms & Similar Words

• excited
• enthusiastic
• avid
• anxious
• keen
• hungry
• ardent
• impatient
• desirous
• pumped
• happy
• enthused
• ready
• interested
• thirsty
• willing
• voracious
• solicitous
• greedy
• antsy
• stoked
• agog
• nuts
• great
• raring
• gung ho
• geeked
• juiced
• crazy
• wild
• engaged
• chomping at the bit
• athirst
• hot
• hepped up
• hopped-up
• champing at the bit
• bonkers
• longing
• gaga
• obsessed
• ambitious
• glad
• restless
• covetous
• craving
• pining
• inclined
• breathless
• restive
• amenable
• hankering
• disposed
• appetent
• game
• hung up
• unreluctant

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• indifferent
• apathetic
• unenthusiastic
• uninterested
• casual
• unconcerned
• disinterested
• nonchalant
• incurious
• reluctant
• aloof
• detached
• unwilling
• insouciant
• hesitant
• uneager
• impassive
• stolid
• loath
• lukewarm
• languid
• averse
• halfhearted
• lackadaisical
• languorous
• disinclined
• spiritless

eagerness

2 of 2

noun

as in enthusiasm

urgent desire or interest

students with an eagerness to learn

Synonyms & Similar Words

• enthusiasm
• thirst
• excitement
• appetite
• impatience
• hunger
• desirousness
• keenness
• ardor
• avidity
• lust
• passion
• ambition
• zeal
• willingness
• avidness
• alacrity
• readiness
• quickness
• zest
• gusto
• warmth
• fervency
• amenability
• appetence
• appetency

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• indifference
• apathy
• unconcern
• nonchalance
• insouciance
• casualness
• detachment
• aloofness
• languor
• impassivity
• lukewarmness
• languidness
• halfheartedness

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

Recent Examples of eager

Adjective

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

Noun

Of course, Warren is far from altogether Oscar-less, having picked up an honorary Academy Award at the Governors Award in 2022, although that has not dampened her enthusiasm to win a competitive trophy… or lessened the Academy’s eagerness to put her in a near-miss position year after year. —Chris Willman, Variety, 16 Mar. 2026

His growth has been defined by dedication, eagerness to learn, and courage to expand his range. —Heide Janssen, Oc Register, 15 Mar. 2026

Phrases Containing eager

• eager beaver