anxious
- full of mental distress or uneasiness because of fear of danger or misfortune; greatly worried; solicitous: Her parents were anxious about her poor health.
- earnestly desirous; eager (usually followed by an infinitive or for): anxious to please; anxious for our happiness.
- attended with or showing solicitude or uneasiness: anxious forebodings.
Origin of anxious
Synonyms for anxious
See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.comAntonyms for anxious
Usage note
Related Words for anxious
afraid, restless, fidgety, fearful, nervous, concerned, apprehensive, distressed, uneasy, uptight, jittery, careful, scared, impatient, keen, enthusiastic, thirsty, aghast, antsy, disturbedExamples from the Web for anxious
Contemporary Examples of anxious
He said Jay was anxious and wondering why it was taking so long for the police to arrive.
Adnan Killed Her! No, Jay Did It! Serial’s Uncertain, True-to-Reality EndEmily Shire
December 18, 2014
A Simba commander yelled the order and anxious rebels began ricocheting bullets into the fleeing group.
During a midterm election with a larger share of anxious, older, whiter voters, that was enough.
The unemployed have a right to be anxious about the ravages on their families exacted by their unemployment.
On the one hand, she was anxious about her colleagues knowing about her kink.
Historical Examples of anxious
If it may be avoided, I will not see the whole of your youth consumed in anxious watchings.
PhilotheaLydia Maria Child
I have been most anxious to give your feelings their full bent.
Their interviews were first blissful, then anxious, then sad, then stormy.
MalboneThomas Wentworth Higginson
"It wouldn't do, sir, for the blind to be anxious," she replied.
"I hope she's at home," was Grace's anxious thought as she rang the bell.
Grace Harlowe's Return to Overton CampusJessie Graham Flower
anxious
- worried and tense because of possible misfortune, danger, etc; uneasy
- fraught with or causing anxiety; worrying; distressingan anxious time
- intensely desirous; eageranxious for promotion
Word Origin for anxious
Word Origin and History for anxious
1620s, from Latin anxius "solicitous, uneasy, troubled in mind" (also "causing anxiety, troublesome"), from angere, anguere "choke, squeeze," figuratively "torment, cause distress" (see anger (v.)). The same image is in Serbo-Croatian tjeskoba "anxiety," literally "tightness, narrowness." Related: Anxiously; anxiousness.