Synonym Chooser

How is the word athirst distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of athirst are anxious, avid, eager, and keen. While all these words mean "moved by a strong and urgent desire or interest," athirst stresses yearning but not necessarily readiness for action.

athirst for adventure

When might anxious be a better fit than athirst?

The synonyms anxious and athirst are sometimes interchangeable, but anxious emphasizes fear of frustration or failure or disappointment.

anxious not to make a social blunder

How do avid and eager relate to one another, in the sense of athirst?

Avid adds to eager the implication of insatiability or greed.

avid for new thrills

In what contexts can eager take the place of athirst?

The meanings of eager and athirst largely overlap; however, eager implies ardor and enthusiasm and sometimes impatience at delay or restraint.

eager to get started

When would keen be a good substitute for athirst?

In some situations, the words keen and athirst are roughly equivalent. However, keen suggests intensity of interest and quick responsiveness in action.

keen on the latest fashions

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for athirst
Adjective
  • But the Devils are a bit of a mess thanks to injuries, which makes this matchup hard to get too excited over.
    Sean McIndoe, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025
  • So, when the opportunity to visit Tanzania arose, I was intrigued and excited to embark on this journey.
    Ronny Maye, Essence, 28 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • El Monte resident Jen Venegas is an avid fan of the local library.
    Victoria Ivie, Oc Register, 12 Apr. 2025
  • An avid antiques collector, David Kerr, who’s based in Florida, relishes the history in the home.
    Colette Coleman, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • In addition, stubbornly high interest rates are prompting institutional investors to offload their holdings in these prime spaces, while luxury companies are eager to take advantage of once-in-a-generation opportunities, and lock in properties for the long term.
    Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 10 Apr. 2025
  • The paper gave him space to hone his style and themes, as well as time to find an audience eager for something that was not like anything else.
    Art Spiegelman, The Atlantic, 9 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
  • The stark consequences of Mr. Trump’s slashing of U.S. aid are evident in few places as clearly as in Sudan, where a brutal civil war has set off a staggering humanitarian catastrophe and left 25 million people — more than half of the country’s population — acutely hungry.
    Declan Walsh, New York Times, 19 Apr. 2025
  • When the new version of the Jets arrived in town, local fans were so hungry for an NHL team that tickets to the home opener went for $1,000 or more.
    Becky Sullivan, NPR, 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
Adjective
  • This super-hydrating formula is packed with avocado and jojoba oils and complemented by yummy, musky floral notes, making quick work of thirsty tangles.
    Annie Blackman, Allure, 28 Mar. 2025
  • Trump’s thirstiest supporters are already seeking to either amend the Constitution or find a loophole through it, so don’t kid yourself and say that Trump is a lame duck in the way his predecessors since Dwight Eisenhower have been.
    Chris Stirewalt, The Hill, 18 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Most of the protests have focused on President Donald Trump's policies and Elon Musk's sweeping federal cuts, of which Greene has been an ardent supporter.
    Arick Wierson, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Apr. 2025
  • The iconic singer was shot and killed in 1995, and this somber milestone was not missed by many of her most ardent supporters.
    Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 11 Apr. 2025
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.

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Athirst.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/athirst. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!