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Synonym Chooser

How is the word avid distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of avid are anxious, athirst, eager, and keen. While all these words mean "moved by a strong and urgent desire or interest," avid adds to eager the implication of insatiability or greed.

avid for new thrills

When might anxious be a better fit than avid?

Although the words anxious and avid have much in common, anxious emphasizes fear of frustration or failure or disappointment.

anxious not to make a social blunder

Where would athirst be a reasonable alternative to avid?

The meanings of athirst and avid largely overlap; however, athirst stresses yearning but not necessarily readiness for action.

athirst for adventure

When could eager be used to replace avid?

While in some cases nearly identical to avid, eager implies ardor and enthusiasm and sometimes impatience at delay or restraint.

eager to get started

When is it sensible to use keen instead of avid?

The synonyms keen and avid are sometimes interchangeable, but keen suggests intensity of interest and quick responsiveness in action.

keen on the latest fashions

Examples 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 avid In addition to music Nyro was an avid feminist and animal rights activist. Gary Graff, Billboard, 9 Dec. 2024 The clients are avid art collectors and commissioned the artist Will Ryman to create a site-specific sculpture for the home. Troy J. McMullen, Architectural Digest, 9 Dec. 2024 For lots of avid gamers this holiday season, there will be Indiana Jones — and then everybody else. Jennifer Maas, Variety, 6 Dec. 2024 Searching for a winning gift for an avid podcaster listener or music lover? Maria Conti, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for avid 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for avid
Adjective
  • Airlines, especially, have been eager to point fingers at short staffing in control towers as a major cause of delays, especially during peak travel seasons.
    Zach Wichter, USA TODAY, 18 Dec. 2024
  • Self-esteem: Feedback from others can make all the difference in a journey of self-improvement, and your participation will be assessed by a diverse group of reviewers eager to offer their opinions not only on your appearance, but also on your overall demeanor and person.
    Megan Garber, The Atlantic, 18 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • Advertisement Prospective renters shouldn’t get too excited, however.
    Andrew Khouri, Los Angeles Times, 16 Dec. 2024
  • And, in fact, the American consumer today, as well as corporate America, is quite excited about what the Trump administration is talking about, and the business environment is very positive.
    CBS News, CBS News, 15 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • Even as a single, childless woman, which society calls failure, my life always felt charmed, so charmed that asking God for more felt greedy.
    Essence, Essence, 17 Dec. 2024
  • Some wonder what's wrong with American society; some see a wakeup call for greedy health insurers.
    Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 17 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • Nobody has been more enthusiastic than Bella Hadid.
    Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 12 Dec. 2024
  • While most of the 860-plus comments were congratulatory, many were predictably less enthusiastic.
    Alice Jones Webb, Outdoor Life, 12 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • Moscow provided air, weapon and artillery support to the regime, as well as mercenary fighters. Iran, long an ally and sponsor of Assad and Syria as a key node in its Axis of Resistance, stepped up its military presence to protect its client and secure weapons flows and influence.
    Ian Pannell, ABC News, 3 Dec. 2024
  • Her motive in accepting the offer is not solely mercenary.
    Peter Rainer, The Christian Science Monitor, 7 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • Trump had already nominated Kash Patel, an ardent Trump supporter, to be Wray’s replacement, thus signaling his intent to fire Wray upon taking office.
    Josh Meyer, USA TODAY, 11 Dec. 2024
  • My own family are ardent supporters of access to telemedicine.
    Judy Stone, Forbes, 6 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • Ever since the United States liberated Kuwait from the avaricious clutches of Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein in the Gulf War of 1990-91, the Kuwaitis have supported U.S. priorities in the Middle East and elsewhere.
    Martin Indyk, Foreign Affairs, 14 Feb. 2022
  • Stalin’s apprenticeship in high-stakes diplomacy had shown him to be cunning but also opportunistic, avaricious, obdurate.
    Stephen Kotkin, Foreign Affairs, 19 Sep. 2017
Adjective
  • While ministers in Kabul appear keen to engage with the international community, Taliban leaders in Kandahar, Afghanistan’s second city, are unwilling to liaise with outsiders, Chatham House says.
    Catherine Nicholls, CNN, 11 Dec. 2024
  • Kathy says her daughter Paris Hilton is keen to host either Christmas Eve or Christmas Day this year.
    Becca Longmire, People.com, 11 Dec. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near avid

Cite this Entry

“Avid.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/avid. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

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