Master confusing words with ease
Anxious vs. Eager
Anxious
/ˈæŋkʃəs/Examples:
Her sisters were anxious for her, but her mother was pleased.I felt anxious, in case he thought of Mary.Her eyes were anxious, alarmed.
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Antonyms:
Eager
/ˈiːɡə/Examples:
In interviews she played the gurgling, nervous, eager young Neely.His eyes shone and his face was eager.A low sound of satisfaction went up from the eager twins.
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
Ways to tell them apart:
- Eager implies a sense of enthusiasm for something positive, while anxious often involves worry or fear about what might happen.
- Eager has a positive connotation, suggesting anticipation and excitement.
- Anxious has a negative connotation, suggesting unease and apprehension.
- An eager person might be looking forward to a vacation, whereas an anxious person might be worried about making a connecting flight.
- Think of eager as "can't wait in a good way" and anxious as "worried about usually negative outcomes."
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