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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



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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

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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