KEYED UP Synonyms: 105 Similar and Opposite Words

keyed up

adjective

Definition of keyed up

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

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

Adjective

The Fear Economy Pew Research found in August 2026 that 52% of Americans are more concerned than excited about AI, up from 37% in 2021.

— Bob Pearson, Forbes.com, 16 Oct. 2026
Upon their arrival, the couple stopped to greet excited fans, several of whom had brought them flowers.

— ABC News, ABC News, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of excited

Adjective

Those contentions — and Bartell’s claim of a second list of 17,000 potential noncitizen voters — only add to an already heated debate about the scope of the inquiry and its legitimacy.

— Kevin Rector, Los Angeles Times, 20 Oct. 2026
During a June 24 special meeting, Knight ordered the removal of fellow board member Anita Kurn following a heated discussion over a vacant board seat, according to Iredell Free News.

— Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of heated

Adjective

The dispute could present a problem for Raman, who rode DSA support to an upset City Council victory in 2020 but has since frustrated some DSA members with her positions on policing, housing development, and Israel.

— Maxwell Adler, Vanity Fair, 19 Oct. 2026
With the upset win over the Ravens, Cleveland moves to 4-2 and into a tie with Baltimore and Pittsburgh.

— Dan Zaksheske OutKick, FOXNews.com, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of upset

Adjective

Pressed by a reporter on a Zoom call about specific players, Wade grew agitated and defiant.

— Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 13 Oct. 2026
When the door finally opened, an agitated young man who resembled Ryan Gosling (Rett Keeter) shined an LED flashlight directly into my eyes, a gesture that would become familiar over the next hour.

— Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of agitated

Adjective

Since the incident, the flamingo has been doing all right physically but is more anxious and nervous when being evaluated, said Peachy’s veterinarian, Tiffany Moore, medical director of Lone Mountain Animal Hospital.

— Jessica Hill, Los Angeles Times, 20 Oct. 2026
As the military-style helicopter hovered above them, attendees from the rural, predominantly Latino community, began to get nervous.

— Philip Wang, Time, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of nervous

Adjective

There’s also reassuring initial bite at the top of the travel, yet the setup doesn’t feel grabby or overly anxious in everyday driving situations.

— Bradley Iger, Robb Report, 16 Oct. 2026
Gong’s collection followed the emotional arc of unrequited love, from the first spark and the anxious wait to the social-media sleuthing, a date, and the sudden disappearance that follows.

— Tianwei Zhang, Footwear News, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of anxious

Adjective

Ramaswamy, who is challenging Democrat Amy Acton for the governor’s seat, has come under attack from some critics for airing a campaign ad this week featuring Acton’s estranged mother slamming her daughter as a troubled liar.

— Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 21 Oct. 2026
Betancourt’s legal problems stemmed from his role in troubled Venezuelan energy projects during the corrupt rule of former President Hugo Chávez.

— Cate Brown, ProPublica, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of troubled

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keyed

keyed up

keyhole

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“Keyed up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/keyed%20up. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of keyed up

adjective

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