as in watchful
having or showing signs of eagerly awaiting something
couldn't control his anticipatory excitement on Christmas morning
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example 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 anticipatory
Inside federal offices, the mood has been tense and anticipatory.
—
Erica L. Green, New York Times, 25 Jan. 2025
Mental Health Counseling For many caregivers, the emotional burden of watching a parent decline, navigating complex family dynamics, or processing anticipatory grief can be overwhelming.
—Carolyn Rosenblatt, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2025
This level of transparency helps candidates engage in anticipatory socialization, essentially seeing themselves in a future role before even applying.
—Phil Kirschner, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2025
The Israel model, by contrast, would mean a heavily armed and insecure Ukraine that would have to fend for itself and thus be prone to anticipatory self-defense and unilateral kinetic action in the form of sabotage, covert action, and assassination.
—Thomas Wright, Foreign Affairs, 24 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for anticipatory
Erica L. Green, New York Times, 25 Jan. 2025
Mental Health Counseling For many caregivers, the emotional burden of watching a parent decline, navigating complex family dynamics, or processing anticipatory grief can be overwhelming.
—Carolyn Rosenblatt, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2025
This level of transparency helps candidates engage in anticipatory socialization, essentially seeing themselves in a future role before even applying.
—Phil Kirschner, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2025
The Israel model, by contrast, would mean a heavily armed and insecure Ukraine that would have to fend for itself and thus be prone to anticipatory self-defense and unilateral kinetic action in the form of sabotage, covert action, and assassination.
—Thomas Wright, Foreign Affairs, 24 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for anticipatory
Recent Examples of Synonyms for anticipatory
Adjective
-
By official count, there are about 6 million Catholics in China, but the number may be higher when counting those who practice at underground churches to avoid Beijing’s watchful eye.—
Nectar Gan,
CNN Money,
22 Apr. 2025
-
Powell has signaled that the Fed is keeping a watchful eye on the impact of Mr. Trump's trade policies.—
Alain Sherter,
CBS News,
21 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
The vast majority of expectant parents in the United States don’t have access to the extreme-screening services provided by the likes of Orchid and Genomic Prediction, and thus don’t have to personally confront the ethical questions that the technology raises.—
Jessica Winter,
New Yorker,
21 Apr. 2025
-
The expectant mom shared an adorable video on TikTok (@taylorlrodriguez) showing the moment Storm rested his head on her pregnant belly and felt the baby kick for the first time.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Confidence in core institutions is badly shaken, and many Americans are eager for leaders who can restore stability and uphold fundamental rights.—
Marc Lester,
Baltimore Sun,
22 Apr. 2025
-
Taylor, a charming extrovert who can make anyone feel comfortable, is eager to help Avery find new friends and learn to flirt with women.—
Diya Chacko,
Oc Register,
22 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Eric Bailly was the most enthusiastic dancer, standing on the massage table giving it some and kicking pizza boxes.—
Andy Mitten,
New York Times,
20 Apr. 2025
-
Buehrle delighted a cold but enthusiastic crowd of 25,390 at the stadium during a 6-0 blanking of the Texas Rangers.—
Kori Rumore,
Chicago Tribune,
18 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
How to know when your dog is agitated Identifying an anxious or aggressive dog can be tricky, as negative and positive emotional indicators can often be confused.—
Karissa Waddick,
USA Today,
19 Apr. 2025
-
The Fed chief said Wednesday the central bank can be patient while assessing data on inflation and employment, which are its dual mandates, while anxious consumers and businesses eye potentially prolonged economic instability.—
Alexis Simendinger,
The Hill,
18 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Anticipatory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/anticipatory. Accessed 29 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share