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View synonyms for anxious

anxious

[ angk-shuhs, ang- ]

adjective

  1. full of mental distress or uneasiness because of fear of danger or misfortune; greatly worried; apprehensive:

    Her parents were anxious about her poor health.

    Synonyms: enthusiastic, solicitous, uneasy, fearful, disturbed, concerned

    Antonyms: confident, calm

  2. earnestly desirous; eager (usually followed by an infinitive or for ): anxious for our happiness.

    anxious to please;

    anxious for our happiness.

    Antonyms: hesitant, reluctant

  3. attended with or showing solicitude or uneasiness:

    anxious forebodings.



anxious

/ ˈæŋkʃəs; ˈæŋʃəs /

adjective

  1. worried and tense because of possible misfortune, danger, etc; uneasy
  2. fraught with or causing anxiety; worrying; distressing

    an anxious time

  3. intensely desirous; eager

    anxious for promotion

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


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Derived Forms

  • ˈanxiousness, noun
  • ˈanxiously, adverb
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Other Words From

  • anx·ious·ly adverb
  • anx·ious·ness noun
  • qua·si-anx·ious adjective
  • un·anx·ious adjective
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Word History and Origins

Origin of anxious1

First recorded in 1615–25; from Latin anxius “worried, distressed,” derivative of angere “to strangle, pain, distress”; anguish, -ous
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Word History and Origins

Origin of anxious1

C17: from Latin anxius; related to Latin angere to torment; see anger , anguish
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Compare Meanings

How does anxious compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

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Example Sentences

If you’re anxious about running into problems exercising your right to vote this election, you’re not alone.

After cost concerns ended prospective bids including from Hamburg, Budapest, Boston and Rome, the IOC was anxious to secure the future of the world’s biggest event for the next decade and persuaded Los Angeles to step aside for four years.

From Ozy

Suddenly, people were at home all day, feeling anxious and fearful about the future and spending a lot more time online.

In this anxious environment, consumers don’t want to waste time or visit stores on the off chance they’ll find what they’re looking for.

The educational value of its products, which the company has been touting for a while, has become a major selling point for parents anxious about their kids’ education.

From Quartz

People are extremely anxious about the next generation,” Lake said, “and it unites America.

He said Jay was anxious and wondering why it was taking so long for the police to arrive.

A Simba commander yelled the order and anxious rebels began ricocheting bullets into the fleeing group.

Both reek of false modesty, but Deen does appear jumpy and genuinely anxious at times.

During a midterm election with a larger share of anxious, older, whiter voters, that was enough.

Things looked anxious for a bit, but by this morning's dawn all are dug in, cool, confident.

Then a nervous, anxious feeling that takes away my appetite, and prevents me from eating my dinner.

But I suppose, as he is my nearest relative, it is but natural he should be anxious about my health.

A little shepherdess is guiding them, as anxious to get them in as they are to enter, for this means the end of her day's work.

Mlle. Mayer had been for some time in a depressed condition, and her friends had been anxious about her.

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