EAGER Synonyms: 84 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 next

as in excited

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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

Examples 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 For people in the industry who have been eager to help, this has felt like a way to do so, even with limited sources, Rohlke said. —

Max Kutner, The Hollywood Reporter, 16 Jan. 2025 At a recent holiday party replete with writers, politicians and tastemakers, Talese, wearing a three-piece gray wool suit with a yellow silk tie with blue stripes, was stopped every few steps by boldface names (and at least one journalist) eager to discuss the finer points of men’s tailoring. —

Sadie Stein, New York Times, 15 Jan. 2025 Taylor and Travis are eager to spend quality time together because [that’s when] the little nuances about someone’s personality and habits come into play. —

Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 14 Jan. 2025 Become An Online Course Creator People around the world are eager to pay for expertise specifically in areas like coding and web development, marketing, artificial intelligence and generative AI, and other areas of personal development. —

Rachel Wells, Forbes, 5 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for eager

Recent Examples of Synonyms for eager

Adjective

If the big names in the Big Easy aren’t reason enough to get excited for Super Bowl LIX, there is no shortage of storylines that make this year’s championship bout between the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles especially compelling.

— Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 27 Jan. 2025
Nervous, yet excited, the 25-year-old filmed the reaction of the two most important men in her life, her dad and her boyfriend.

— Joel Thayer, Newsweek, 27 Jan. 2025