AVID Synonyms: 148 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

avid

adjective

ˈa-vəd

Definition of avid

as in eager

having or marked by an eager and often selfish desire especially for material possessions stared at the array of jewels with an avid glint in his eye

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in enthusiastic

showing urgent desire or interest an avid baseball card collector

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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 avid Vanessa Dawson, founder of Arber, a leading organic plant care company, as well as an avid gardener with over 20 years of experience. — Lauren Wellbank, Martha Stewart, 23 July 2026 Aside from his prowess on the basketball court, Brunson has become known in some circles as an avid TV viewer. — Shelby Stivale, Entertainment Weekly, 22 July 2026 While avid fans may be disappointed, Ohashi’s confident and joyful return to the elite stage bodes well for 2027 and beyond. — Caroline Price, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026 An avid reader, the younger Forster was fluent in German, French, English, and Russian. — Danny Heitman, Christian Science Monitor, 22 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for avid

Recent Examples of Synonyms for avid

Adjective

Now, the 34-year-old utilityman is grateful to be back and eager to build on his four-for-four start over two games.

— Joaquin Ruiz, Los Angeles Times, 29 July 2026
As the Steam Deck slowly marches toward its fifth birthday next February, owners are likely eager for a way to extend its life rather than investing in expensive high-end competition.

— Kyle Orland, ArsTechnica, 29 July 2026

Definition of eager

Adjective

Skubal, who missed more than a month after eventually having surgery to remove a loose body from his elbow, mostly disagreed with public reaction painting him as greedy or selfish in not disclosing the strange feeling that had lingered in his arm.

— Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 24 July 2026
In Nolan’s telling, his deceit and plundering portend the collapse of the Bronze Age—a foreboding warning about greedy, fading empires that feels a little too relevant.

— Natasha O'Neill, Vanity Fair, 16 July 2026

Definition of greedy

Adjective

This is because patients are increasingly excited to use wearables and other devices to gather more information and metrics regarding their own health.

— Forbes.com, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
These very same donors, Eustis said, are the ones who feel most excited to be sitting among the citizenry in Central Park, watching the beauty of public art unfold in a joyous communal atmosphere.

— Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 31 July 2026

Definition of excited

Adjective

Now, with one-year mercenary players plus rapid roster turnover, the first game deters even the most addicted sports gambler.

— Mac Engel July 28, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 July 2026
But after Richard’s death, his mercenary captain and right-hand man, the infamous Mercadier, had Basile flayed alive and hanged.

— Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026

Definition of mercenary

Adjective

Helsinki and Jyväskylä provide the clearest and most manageable introduction for all but the most ardent students of architecture.

— David Nikel, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026
Wherever Flock controversies bubble to the surface, police come out of the woodwork as the company’s most ardent defenders.

— Joe Wilkins, Futurism, 30 July 2026

Definition of ardent

Adjective

Played by a Colman Domingo who is done up to look the most wax figurine of them all in a shellacking of makeup, prosthetics, and colored contacts, Joe is always either giving an avaricious open-mouthed leer or a cold-eyed glare.

— Alison Willmore, Vulture, 23 Apr. 2026
There’s a quasi-heist theme to The Christophers, which revolves around an acclaimed artist (McKellen), who has long since stopped making new work, and his avaricious children (Gunning and Corden) who try to enlist Coel to complete some of their dad’s unfinished paintings.

— Matthew Carey, Deadline, 30 Mar. 2026

Definition of avaricious

Adjective

In an interview with the ECB website, Root was keen to pay tribute to Stokes, one of his closest friends, but acknowledged that the team would need to reassess its approach under Fleming.

— Andrew Fifield, New York Times, 1 Aug. 2026
The site produces material used to make magnets that are essential for defense manufacturing, which the US is keen to secure.

— Jenny Vaughan, semafor.com, 31 July 2026

Definition of keen

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“Avid.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/avid. Accessed 4 Aug. 2026.

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adjective

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Synonyms of avid

adjective

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Articles Related to avid

Must 'Avid' Mean 'Greedy'?

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on avid

More from Merriam-Webster

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