antsy

American  

[ant-see] / ˈænt si /

adjective

Informal.

antsier, antsiest

1. unable to sit or stand still; fidgety.

   The children were bored and antsy.

2. apprehensive, uneasy, or nervous.

   I'm a little antsy since hearing those storm warnings.

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antsy British  

/ ˈæntsɪ /

adjective

1. informal restless, nervous, and impatient

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Other Word Forms

• antsiness noun

Etymology

Origin of antsy

1950–55; ant + -s ³ + -y ¹; -sy

Example Sentences

The film’s persistent brittleness may make some viewers antsy.

From Los Angeles Times

I know I’m the one who brought it up, but the basketball talk makes me antsy.

From Literature

Major reactions to relatively minor events show that shareholders are getting antsy as AI investment grows with little measurable return behind it.

From Barron's

My phone is rarely out of reach, and when it is, I grow antsy and restless.

From The Wall Street Journal

But I remember when I realized I really had it bad was when an ex-girlfriend told me, “Before shows, you get really antsy. You have this energy that’s scattered and you walk around really tense.”

From Los Angeles Times