anxious

adjective

anx·ious ˈaŋ(k)-shəs How to pronounce anxious (audio)

: characterized by extreme uneasiness of mind or brooding fear about some contingency : worried

anxious parents

: characterized by, resulting from, or causing anxiety : worrying

They spent an anxious night.

: ardently or earnestly wishing

She was anxious to learn more.

anxiously adverb

anxiousness noun

Did you know?

Can anxious Be Used as a Synonym for eager?

The fact that individual words can have multiple senses that are closely related in meaning is something which many people find objectionable about the English language. Anxious is an example of such a word, as people will use it to mean "worried," "eager (but with an undertone of worry)," and simply "eager."

The word has been used in the sense of "eager" for a considerable length of time, with evidence going back at least to the 17th century.

Example Sentences

… to the eye anxious for reform in the city and forgetful of conditions in the countryside …

Joseph A. Amato, Dust, 2000 He was exhausted yet exhilarated, anxious … about getting on the ice with a team that had a chance to win.

Michael Farber, Sports Illustrated, 20 Mar. 2000 The individual states—fearful of losing industry and richer residents to lower-tax rivals and anxious to minimize their burden of needy citizens …

Atlantic, May 1997 He was so anxious to get a fly into the water that he had to reproach himself for haste.

John Cheever, The Wapshot Chronicle, 1957 She feels anxious and depressed. People are anxious about the future. He was anxious that the weather would not improve in time for the party. We experienced a few anxious moments as we waited to hear the results of the test. It was an anxious night as she waited for her children to come home. He was waiting at the door with an anxious expression on his face. He was anxious for more news. See More

Recent Examples on the Web Research shows people who spend a lot of time on their computer tend to feel more anxious in general.

CNN, 14 Aug. 2022 Now that the project is wrapping up, a source tells PEOPLE that The Kardashians star, 41, is anxious to see her boyfriend.

Charmaine Patterson, Peoplemag, 4 Aug. 2022 Sometimes the marijuana would make Elysse feel more anxious, or sad.

New York Times, 23 June 2022 Americans are anxious about crime, and that could spell more trouble for Democrats in November.

Andrew Stein, WSJ, 18 Aug. 2022 This is no surprise from director Mark Mylod, an executive producer on HBO’s Succession, whose work is clearly anxious about the absurdity of a world where some have private jets while others have no private jets.

Nico Avalle, Bon Appétit, 15 Aug. 2022 That is according to Northwestern Mutual’s 2022 Planning and Progress Study, which surveyed almost 2,500 Americans on their attitudes about money and found 54% are somewhat or very anxious about money.

Kaitlyn Koterbski, Fortune, 27 July 2022 Nugent has been at Penn State for three weeks and is anxious to get fall ball started.

Scott Springer, The Enquirer, 26 July 2022 For Georgetown mother Courtney Albin Glazener, who was anxious to get her 2-year-old vaccinated, the wait was compounded by the fact that her pediatrician didn’t have the vaccine available right away.

Karen Brooks Harper, San Antonio Express-News, 11 July 2022 See More

anxious

adjective

as in worried

feeling or showing uncomfortable feelings of uncertainty was anxious about the play tryouts scheduled for the following day

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

worried
nervous
upset
uneasy
apprehensive
troubled
concerned
hesitant
disturbed
perturbed
tense
uptight
flustered
jittery
bothered
antsy
jumpy
queasy
insecure
preoccupied
distraught
freaked
obsessed
aflutter
queazy
on edge
unquiet
goosey
restless
nervy
dithery
hung up
het up
disquieted
edgy
on tenterhooks
keyed up
distressed
ill at ease
aggrieved
atwitter
fretful
hinky
vexed
on pins and needles
misgiving
fretting
foreboding
freaked-out
unnerved
fidgety
stewing
unstrung
qualmish
fluttery
twittered
shook-up
undone
qualmy
spooky
skittish
high-strung
flighty
hypertense

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

easy
calm
relaxed
confident
sure
cool
collected
nerveless
happy-go-lucky
self-assured
self-confident
controlled
self-controlled

as in uneasy

marked by or causing agitation or uncomfortable feelings the whole crowd seemed to make an anxious gasp as the home team almost fumbled the ball

Synonyms & Similar Words

uneasy
nervous
tense
restless
disturbing
unsettling
agitating
distressful
unnerving
creepy
worrisome
distressing
nerve-wracking
disquieting
fraught
nerve-racking
embarrassing
troublesome
strained
hairy
nail-biting
discouraging
awkward
bothersome
misgiving
foreboding
disheartening
restive
unrestful

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

easy
comfortable
quiet
calming
peaceful
tranquil
restful
quieting
pacific

as in excited

showing urgent desire or interest I'm anxious for my birthday party

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Synonym Chooser

Some common synonyms of anxious are athirst, avid, eager, and keen. While all these words mean "moved by a strong and urgent desire or interest," anxious emphasizes fear of frustration or failure or disappointment.

anxious not to make a social blunder

Although the words athirst and anxious have much in common, athirst stresses yearning but not necessarily readiness for action.

athirst for adventure

Avid adds to eager the implication of insatiability or greed.

avid for new thrills

The synonyms eager and anxious are sometimes interchangeable, but eager implies ardor and enthusiasm and sometimes impatience at delay or restraint.

eager to get started

While the synonyms keen and anxious are close in meaning, keen suggests intensity of interest and quick responsiveness in action.

keen on the latest fashions

单词	anxious
释义	anxious adjective anx·ious ˈaŋ(k)-shəs 1 : characterized by extreme uneasiness of mind or brooding fear about some contingency : worried anxious parents 2 : characterized by, resulting from, or causing anxiety : worrying They spent an anxious night. 3 : ardently or earnestly wishing She was anxious to learn more. anxiously adverb anxiousness noun Did you know? Can anxious Be Used as a Synonym for eager? The fact that individual words can have multiple senses that are closely related in meaning is something which many people find objectionable about the English language. Anxious is an example of such a word, as people will use it to mean "worried," "eager (but with an undertone of worry)," and simply "eager." The word has been used in the sense of "eager" for a considerable length of time, with evidence going back at least to the 17th century. Synonyms aflutter antsy atwitter dithery edgy goosey het up hinky [slang] hung up ill at ease insecure jittery jumpy nervous nervy perturbed queasy queazy tense troubled uneasy unquiet upset uptight worried See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences … to the eye anxious for reform in the city and forgetful of conditions in the countryside … Joseph A. Amato, Dust, 2000 He was exhausted yet exhilarated, anxious … about getting on the ice with a team that had a chance to win. Michael Farber, Sports Illustrated, 20 Mar. 2000 The individual states—fearful of losing industry and richer residents to lower-tax rivals and anxious to minimize their burden of needy citizens … Atlantic, May 1997 He was so anxious to get a fly into the water that he had to reproach himself for haste. John Cheever, The Wapshot Chronicle, 1957 She feels anxious and depressed. People are anxious about the future. He was anxious that the weather would not improve in time for the party. We experienced a few anxious moments as we waited to hear the results of the test. It was an anxious night as she waited for her children to come home. He was waiting at the door with an anxious expression on his face. He was anxious for more news. See More Recent Examples on the Web Research shows people who spend a lot of time on their computer tend to feel more anxious in general. CNN, 14 Aug. 2022 Now that the project is wrapping up, a source tells PEOPLE that The Kardashians star, 41, is anxious to see her boyfriend. Charmaine Patterson, Peoplemag, 4 Aug. 2022 Sometimes the marijuana would make Elysse feel more anxious, or sad. New York Times, 23 June 2022 Americans are anxious about crime, and that could spell more trouble for Democrats in November. Andrew Stein, WSJ, 18 Aug. 2022 This is no surprise from director Mark Mylod, an executive producer on HBO’s Succession, whose work is clearly anxious about the absurdity of a world where some have private jets while others have no private jets. Nico Avalle, Bon Appétit, 15 Aug. 2022 That is according to Northwestern Mutual’s 2022 Planning and Progress Study, which surveyed almost 2,500 Americans on their attitudes about money and found 54% are somewhat or very anxious about money. Kaitlyn Koterbski, Fortune, 27 July 2022 Nugent has been at Penn State for three weeks and is anxious to get fall ball started. Scott Springer, The Enquirer, 26 July 2022 For Georgetown mother Courtney Albin Glazener, who was anxious to get her 2-year-old vaccinated, the wait was compounded by the fact that her pediatrician didn’t have the vaccine available right away. Karen Brooks Harper, San Antonio Express-News, 11 July 2022 See More Word History Etymology Latin anxius "worried, disturbed, uneasy, marked by or inducing anxiety or distress" (adjective derivative from the base of angere "to choke, cause pain to, afflict, vex") + -ous — more at anger entry 1 First Known Use 1548, in the meaning defined at sense 1 Kids Definition anxious adjective anx·ious ˈaŋk-shəs 1 : afraid or nervous about what may happen The parents were anxious about the child's health. 2 : causing or showing fear or nervousness an anxious moment 3 : wanting very much : eager She is anxious to get home. Medical Definition anxious adjective anx·ious ˈaŋ(k)-shəs 1 : characterized by extreme uneasiness of mind or brooding fear about some contingency anxious students 2 : characterized by, resulting from, or causing anxiety an anxious time in the hospital waiting room anxious adjective 1 as in worried feeling or showing uncomfortable feelings of uncertainty was anxious about the play tryouts scheduled for the following day Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance worried nervous upset uneasy apprehensive troubled concerned hesitant disturbed perturbed tense uptight flustered jittery bothered antsy jumpy queasy insecure preoccupied distraught freaked obsessed aflutter queazy on edge unquiet goosey restless nervy dithery hung up het up disquieted edgy on tenterhooks keyed up distressed ill at ease aggrieved atwitter fretful hinky vexed on pins and needles misgiving fretting foreboding freaked-out unnerved fidgety stewing unstrung qualmish fluttery twittered shook-up undone qualmy spooky skittish high-strung flighty hypertense Antonyms & Near Antonyms easy calm relaxed confident sure cool collected nerveless happy-go-lucky self-assured self-confident controlled self-controlled See More 2 as in uneasy marked by or causing agitation or uncomfortable feelings the whole crowd seemed to make an anxious gasp as the home team almost fumbled the ball Synonyms & Similar Words uneasy nervous tense restless disturbing unsettling agitating distressful unnerving creepy worrisome distressing nerve-wracking disquieting fraught nerve-racking embarrassing troublesome strained hairy nail-biting discouraging awkward bothersome misgiving foreboding disheartening restive unrestful Antonyms & Near Antonyms easy comfortable quiet calming peaceful tranquil restful quieting pacific See More 3 as in excited showing urgent desire or interest I'm anxious for my birthday party Synonyms & Similar Words excited eager avid enthusiastic keen hungry impatient happy antsy enthused desirous ardent interested solicitous pumped ready thirsty stoked raring greedy nuts athirst crazy agog geeked voracious willing great wild juiced gung ho obsessed hepped up engaged hot longing glad chomping at the bit hopped-up restless champing at the bit ambitious craving covetous restive hankering breathless pining hung up inclined disposed amenable appetent game unreluctant Antonyms & Near Antonyms indifferent apathetic unenthusiastic unconcerned uninterested disinterested casual nonchalant aloof reluctant detached incurious unwilling hesitant insouciant impassive uneager stolid loath lukewarm lackadaisical languid averse spiritless halfhearted disinclined loth loathe languorous See More Synonym Chooser Some common synonyms of anxious are athirst, avid, eager, and keen. While all these words mean "moved by a strong and urgent desire or interest," anxious emphasizes fear of frustration or failure or disappointment. anxious not to make a social blunder Although the words athirst and anxious have much in common, athirst stresses yearning but not necessarily readiness for action. athirst for adventure Avid adds to eager the implication of insatiability or greed. avid for new thrills The synonyms eager and anxious are sometimes interchangeable, but eager implies ardor and enthusiasm and sometimes impatience at delay or restraint. eager to get started While the synonyms keen and anxious are close in meaning, keen suggests intensity of interest and quick responsiveness in action. keen on the latest fashions
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anxious

adjective

Did you know?

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

Kids Definition

adjective

Medical Definition

adjective

adjective

Synonym Chooser