EAGER Synonyms: 86 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'eager' distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of eager are anxious , athirst , avid , and keen . While all these words mean "moved by a strong and urgent desire or interest," eager implies ardor and enthusiasm and sometimes impatience at delay or restraint. // eager to get started

Q: When might 'anxious' be a better fit than 'eager'?

The words anxious and eager can be used in similar contexts, but anxious emphasizes fear of frustration or failure or disappointment. // anxious not to make a social blunder

Q: When can 'athirst' be used instead of 'eager'?

The synonyms athirst and eager are sometimes interchangeable, but athirst stresses yearning but not necessarily readiness for action. // athirst for adventure

Q: How are the words 'avid' and 'eager' related?

Avid adds to eager the implication of insatiability or greed. // avid for new thrills

Q: Where would 'keen' be a reasonable alternative to 'eager'?

While in some cases nearly identical to eager , keen suggests intensity of interest and quick responsiveness in action. // keen on the latest fashions

eager

adjective

ˈē-gər

Definition of eager

as in excited

showing urgent desire or interest Tom was eager to try out his new pair of skis

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How is the word eager distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of eager are anxious, athirst, avid, and keen. While all these words mean "moved by a strong and urgent desire or interest," eager implies ardor and enthusiasm and sometimes impatience at delay or restraint.

eager to get started

When might anxious be a better fit than eager?

The words anxious and eager can be used in similar contexts, but anxious emphasizes fear of frustration or failure or disappointment.

anxious not to make a social blunder

When can athirst be used instead of eager?

The synonyms athirst and eager are sometimes interchangeable, but athirst stresses yearning but not necessarily readiness for action.

athirst for adventure

How are the words avid and eager related?

Avid adds to eager the implication of insatiability or greed.

avid for new thrills

Where would keen be a reasonable alternative to eager?

While in some cases nearly identical to eager, keen suggests intensity of interest and quick responsiveness in action.

keen on the latest fashions

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 eager Still, those eager to add one or more of these to their collection would be advised to reach out to Tom Hartley Jnr sooner than later. — Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 20 Oct. 2026 There are other niceties too, like room for luminous tritium vials on a spinning module that should delight eager fidgeters, and the SceptriX's ability to strike up a spark with a separate ferro rod and light a fire. — Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 19 Oct. 2026 The Street is eager for insights around viewer engagement and the upcoming original content slate, both Achilles’ heels of late. — Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 19 Oct. 2026 In West Virginia, Arkansas and Texas, proponents have been eager to challenge anyone who got in the way, including fellow Republicans who voiced concerns. — Henry Culvyhouse, ProPublica, 19 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for eager

Recent Examples of Synonyms for eager

Adjective

We are excited by the prospect of evolving the Festival beyond what people have come to expect.

— Max Goldbart, Deadline, 22 Oct. 2026
Layer in Musk's visionary nature and ability to get investors excited, and you're left with an earnings conference call that should be considered required reading for any market participant.

— Zev Fima, CNBC, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of excited

Adjective

But footage obtained by OutKick portrayed a different story, including a handshake with an enthusiastic Bengals head coach Zac Taylor.

— Ryan Morik , Preston Mizell OutKick, FOXNews.com, 23 Oct. 2026
Wall Street has been enthusiastic about the separation, which is designed to unlock the value of each group of assets and is likely to generate M&A interest.

— Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of enthusiastic

Adjective

Advertisement As a result, many older users who may have only had glancing interactions with AI have become avid users.

— Andrew R. Chow, Time, 22 Oct. 2026
For avid safari-goers, this is a particularly great spot to learn more about the initiatives and efforts that go into conservation work for specific wildlife.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of avid

Adjective

The director general was attempting to lift the gloom after being beset with questions from anxious employees about job losses, service reductions, and general retrenchment.

— Max Goldbart, Deadline, 24 Oct. 2026
An anxious child Apart from her scribbled notes, scant details are available about Runa’s experience in detention, according to her lawyer Yoshihiro Mukai.

— Hanako Montgomery, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of anxious

Adjective

But whether in Frankfurt or, later, Weimar — where Soviet officials are as keen to canonize Thomas — this father and daughter aren’t simply driving through Germany but taking a tour across fascism’s long shadow, which still darkens the world.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026
The Cloudveil For those keen to stay in town, there’s no better, more central location than The Cloudveil, situated on Jackson’s historic Town Square.

— Lindsay Cohn, Vogue, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of keen

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“Eager.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/eager. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Can 'anxious' be used to mean 'eager'?

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