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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in excited
showing urgent desire or interest
I'm anxious for my birthday party
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of anxious
Fans of the Tigers are growing anxious with the program's results in recent years, as head coach Dabo Swinney has lost at least four games in his last three seasons.
—
Jordan Sigler, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025
But, alas, my Slush is making students anxious, too.
—Ian Bogost, The Atlantic, 4 Nov. 2025
Wu acknowledges that the perception of the Democratic Party is in peril, and is anxious for politicians to openly fight for the working class.
—Brittany Shepherd, ABC News, 3 Nov. 2025
Redirect their attention If your dog is anxious and barking in a panic, your first step is to remove them from the trigger.
—Madeline Gunderson, USA Today, 2 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for anxious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for anxious
Adjective
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In response, the White House is planning to adjust its messaging strategy to focus on affordability to try to win over voters who are worried about the high cost of living with plans to emphasize new tax breaks and show progress on fighting inflation.—
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Are Americans worried about inflation just wrong?—
Adjective
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Neighbors fear rising violence Residents said the shooting has left them uneasy.—
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But by evening, an uneasy calm had settled across the city.—
Adjective
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Scherzinger glowed with an excited expression, her arms raised again in the air.—
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A lot of us are excited to refresh our spaces in the new year.—
Adjective
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From a portable power bank to keep your phone charged to noise-canceling headphones that will drown out stressful sounds, these travel accessories will help nervous fliers and frequent travelers alike have easier journeys.—
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But now there's a new robo-tech in town, and my Roadie 3 is looking very nervous indeed.—
Adjective
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Despite already having declared her candidacy, McKnight voiced disturbing and violent threats against Sheehy.—
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This story contains a description of a shooting some readers may find disturbing.—
Adjective
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The 23-year-old Shou, a lifelong Fremont resident, won out over hundreds of others eager to play 17-year-old Joe, a troubled San Gabriel Valley area high school student with schizophrenia whose distraught mom Irene (Liu, in a transformative performance) is dying of cancer.—
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Hosted by Variety’s Angelique Jackson and Marc Malkin, the pre-show will deliver exclusive access, must-see interviews and real-time coverage from the first spot on the carpet, serving as the ultimate destination for fans eager to experience the night unfold.—
Adjective
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The Tigers, previously 0-9 all-time at Rupp Arena, took advantage of a struggling Kentucky Wildcats squad for a 73-68 upset win.—
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The automaker spent much of the year undoing decisions made by the previous CEO, Carlos Tavares, who resigned at the end of 2024, as stakeholders in the company — from dealers to union rank and file — were upset with him and unhappy with his leadership.—
Adjective
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Yet the competitive reality hit hardest during a tense FIBA break.—
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Davis became the director of CPW in April 2023 and has overseen the state’s controversial and often-tense wolf reintroduction program.—
Cite this Entry
“Anxious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/anxious. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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