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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 Courtesy Kellie Carlson The attack The attack unfolded as Carlson and her family — all avid divers — were at the Lighthouse Reef atoll in the Caribbean Sea. Morgan Chesky, NBC News, 31 Dec. 2024 William Roberson is an avid motorcyclist, outdoor enthusiast, world traveler, photographer and adventure seeker. William Roberson, Forbes, 31 Dec. 2024 When temperatures start to drop, avid gardeners will start the process of preparing their garden and plants for winter. Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 22 Dec. 2024 Newsweek spoke to Ari Perez, an associate professor at Quinnipiac University and an avid Swiftie. Benedict Cosgrove, Newsweek, 20 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for avid 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for avid
Adjective
  • This unexpected discovery has captured the attention of archaeologists, who are eager to explore its origins and significance.
    Stories by Real-Time news team, with AI summarization, Miami Herald, 17 Jan. 2025
  • The folks in in Philly can attest and are eager to see what Fangio has in the offing for Sunday’s game against the Rams. 7.
    Dan Wiederer, Chicago Tribune, 17 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Simply put, a pop-up like this gets people excited about the upcoming season.
    Callum Booth, Forbes, 15 Jan. 2025
  • Avery was excited to hear responses from high-profile brands such as Huda Beauty and artists including Charli XCX who also wanted to participate.
    Sarah Quiñones Wolfson, Los Angeles Times, 15 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • How inflation is impacting America Are greedy companies to blame for grocery inflation?
    Juweek Adolphe, NPR, 14 Jan. 2025
  • Scanty sentences for these greedy big shots do little to deter crooked behavior in the future.
    The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 13 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • But unfortunately, the ones who did speak up with anything other than enthusiastic support from Mr. Hegseth immediately came under extremely volatile attack from everybody from President Trump down to his MAGA base.
    Philip Elliott, TIME, 14 Jan. 2025
  • The song became his biggest hit to date, as demonstrated by its impressive streaming numbers across various platforms and the enthusiastic interaction at live performances.
    Hala Mustafa, Billboard, 14 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Some carried the black flag of the mercenary Wagner Group, notorious for its brutality in Ukraine and Africa.
    Anna Nemtsova, The Atlantic, 27 Dec. 2024
  • Here, Isaac plays a man with dissociative identity disorder, giving us not one but three distinct characters: mercenary Mark Spector, British gift shop employee Steven Grant, and the mysterious—and seemingly ominous—Jake Lockley.
    Jennifer M. Wood, WIRED, 19 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • An ardent dislike for Gaetz might be the most bipartisan, bicameral issue to come out of the 118th Congress.
    Dan Perry, Newsweek, 4 Jan. 2025
  • At one time or another, all ardent skiers dream of a European vacation in order to test their mettle at some of the world’s greatest ski resorts.
    Roger Sands, Forbes, 4 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Pearce plays Van Buren as hungry and avaricious even in his kinder moments, a man of immense wealth whose primary desire is to own more and more.
    David Sims, The Atlantic, 10 Jan. 2025
  • 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
Adjective
  • The drive to enthuse students (and anyone keen to learn) throughout the computer science industry is dominated by messaging designed to encourage people to gain certification and skills in software application development.
    Adrian Bridgwater, Forbes, 11 Jan. 2025
  • For more experienced adventurers, especially those keen on windsurfing and kiteboarding, Canadian Hole (also known as the Haulover Day Use Area) is the ticket.
    Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 11 Jan. 2025

Thesaurus Entries Near avid

Cite this Entry

“Avid.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/avid. Accessed 20 Jan. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on avid

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