keyed up

adjective

Definition of keyed upnext
1
as in excited
being in a state of increased activity or agitation She's pretty keyed up from all that coffee.

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in worried
feeling or showing uncomfortable feelings of uncertainty He was all keyed up for his first day at the new job.

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 keyed up Here her strained exuberance keyed up a bit. — Christopher Hooks, Harpers Magazine, 23 June 2026 Resets can be used during warm-ups, after workouts, between stressful meetings or anytime your body feels keyed up. — Dana Santas, CNN Money, 14 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for keyed up
  1. excited
  2. worried
  3. heated
  4. upset
  5. agitated
  6. nervous
  7. anxious
  8. troubled
Adjective
  • This offseason, that group added a second-round pick to the group in Max Klare and got excited about a Year-2 breakout for Terrance Ferguson.
    — Nate Atkins, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
  • In the kitchen, Shannon cries because Vicki, who was so excited about this trip, has basically gone nonverbal.
    — Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of excited
Adjective
  • Trump’s approval ratings, however, are at an all-time low, and the party is worried about MAGA voters not turning out in large numbers.
    — Elizabeth Robinson, NBC news, 10 Sep. 2026
  • There’s a generational gap in the concerns, with people increasingly worried about younger generations and entry-level jobs getting eaten by AI.
    — Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of worried
Adjective
  • Astra is making investors feel better about OpenAI's technical prowess in its heated battle against Anthropic and a gaggle of open-source competitors.
    — Kevin Stankiewicz, CNBC, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Some heated on-pitch rivalries persist at the negotiating table, though.
    — Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of heated
Adjective
  • Bayern Munich also play Thursday, hosting Bodo/Glimt, who last season knocked out Inter in a huge last-32 upset.
    — Leon Imber, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
  • The seven-time Grand Slam champion ultimately fell to Shelton in the thrilling upset, 6-7(5-7), 6-1, 6-3, 1-6, 7-6 (10-7).
    — Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of upset
Adjective
  • Following instructions from the kidnappers (unbeknownst to his increasingly agitated comrades), Lee drives out to meet them for the exchange, only to wreck his car and become distracted saving a nearby woman, Hua (Moon Lee).
    — Jake Cole, IndieWire, 10 Sep. 2026
  • During the interview at TMZ‘s offices, West grew increasingly agitated, pacing the newsroom while discussing opioid use and liposuction.
    — Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of agitated
Adjective
  • People were understandably very nervous about being on camera, letting a camera into the room.
    — Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Vinny, short for Vincent van Gogh, gets nervous and prefers shorter, quieter walks, and Macaroni, named after Fleetwood Mac, makes the stroller a tight squeeze for two cats.
    — Emily Tarinelli, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of nervous
Adjective
  • That feels very much in tune with the anxious characters Eisenberg has played over the course of his acting career, but this whole directing thing is working out nicely for him, too.
    — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Nelson remembers hushing her foster children back to sleep that night and calling 911, anxious for an end to those sleepless nights.
    — Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of anxious
Adjective
  • The public reckonings with these figures’ legacies—the troubled former child star gone too soon, the beloved icon, the cult favorite, the complicated eccentric—have come in a cascade.
    — Michael Schulman, New Yorker, 5 Sep. 2026
  • In the last decade Germany has sheltered millions of refugees, mainly from Syria and other troubled countries in the Middle East.
    — Erik Kirschbaum, Los Angeles Times, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of troubled

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keyed
keyed up
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Cite this Entry

“Keyed up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/keyed%20up. Accessed 13 Sep. 2026.

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Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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