anxious
adjective
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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
Example Sentences
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 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
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
1548, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Kids Definition
anxious
adjective
Medical Definition
anxious
adjective
anxious
adjective
Synonyms & Similar Words
- 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
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
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.
Although the words athirst and anxious have much in common, athirst stresses yearning but not necessarily readiness for action.
Avid adds to eager the implication of insatiability or greed.
The synonyms eager and anxious are sometimes interchangeable, but eager implies ardor and enthusiasm and sometimes impatience at delay or restraint.
While the synonyms keen and anxious are close in meaning, keen suggests intensity of interest and quick responsiveness in action.