Antsy — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective /ˈant-sē/ ant·sy

Meaning & Definition of Antsy

Antsy (adjective)

  1. restless, fidgety; also, impatient, eager
  2. nervous, apprehensive

Antsy (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. feeling or showing uncomfortable feelings of uncertainty

    "he was feeling understandably antsy about the tax audit"

    similar: aflutter, anxious, atwitter, dithery, edgy, goosey, het up, hinky (slang), hung up, ill at ease, insecure, jittery, jumpy, nervous, nervy, perturbed, queasy, tense, troubled, uneasy, unquiet, upset, uptight, worried, keyed up, on edge, on pins and needles, on tenterhooks
    related: aggrieved, bothered, concerned, disquieted, distraught, distressed, disturbed, freaked, freaked-out, shook-up, apprehensive, foreboding, hesitant, misgiving, fretful, fretting, stewing, vexed, qualmish, qualmy, flustered, twittered, undone, unnerved, unstrung, obsessed, preoccupied, restless, fidgety, flighty, fluttery, high-strung, hypertense, skittish, spooky
    opposite: calm, collected, cool, easy, happy-go-lucky, nerveless, relaxed
    near: confident, self-assured, self-confident, sure, controlled, self-controlled

  2. making jerky or restless movements

    "after a few minutes in the formal restaurant, the kids got antsy"

    similar: fidgety, squirmy, twitchy, wiggly, wriggly
    related: aflutter, fluttery, twittery, quaking, quivering, shaking, shivering, shivery, shuddering, trembling, anxious, dithery, edgy, het up, hung up, jittery, jumpy, nervous, nervy, perturbed, restive, tense, troubled, uneasy, unquiet, upset, uptight, worried
    opposite: motionless, still
    near: calm, collected, cool, easy, relaxed

  3. showing urgent desire or interest

    "she's been antsy to start what promises to be an exciting new job"

    similar: agog, anxious, ardent, athirst, avid, bonkers (informal), crazy, desirous, eager, enthused, enthusiastic, excited, gaga, geeked (slang), great, greedy, gung ho, hepped up, hopped-up, hot, hungry, impatient, juiced, keen, nuts, pumped, raring, solicitous, stoked (slang), thirsty, voracious, wild, champing at the bit, chomping at the bit
    related: engaged, interested, happy, hung up, obsessed, ambitious, appetent, covetous, craving, hankering, longing, pining, breathless, restive, restless, amenable, disposed, game, glad, inclined, ready, unreluctant, willing
    opposite: apathetic, indifferent, uneager, unenthusiastic
    near: casual, incurious, insouciant, nonchalant, unconcerned, uninterested, aloof, detached, disinterested, impassive, stolid, halfhearted, lackadaisical, languid, languorous, lukewarm, spiritless, averse, disinclined, hesitant, loath, reluctant, unwilling

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Antsy

The most common words with a similar meaning to Antsy:

Slang: hinky, geeked, stoked
Informal: bonkers
aflutter, anxious, atwitter, dithery, edgy, goosey, het up, hung up, ill at ease, insecure, jittery, jumpy, nervous, nervy, perturbed, queasy, tense, troubled, uneasy, unquiet, upset, uptight, worried, fidgety, squirmy, twitchy, wiggly, wriggly, agog, ardent, athirst, avid, crazy, desirous, eager, enthused, enthusiastic, excited, gaga, great

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Antsy

Words with the opposite meaning of Antsy:

calm, collected, cool, easy, happy-go-lucky, nerveless, relaxed, motionless, still, apathetic, indifferent, uneager, unenthusiastic

Related Words for Antsy

aggrieved, bothered, concerned, disquieted, distraught, distressed, disturbed, freaked, freaked-out, shook-up, apprehensive, foreboding, hesitant, misgiving, fretful, fretting, stewing, vexed, qualmish, qualmy, flustered, twittered, undone, unnerved, unstrung, obsessed, preoccupied, restless, flighty, fluttery

Near Antonyms of Antsy

confident, self-assured, self-confident, sure, controlled, self-controlled, casual, incurious, insouciant, nonchalant, unconcerned, uninterested, aloof, detached, disinterested, impassive, stolid, halfhearted, lackadaisical, languid, languorous, lukewarm, spiritless, averse, disinclined, hesitant, loath, reluctant, unwilling

Origin & Etymology of Antsy

First known use: 1950

Frequently Asked Questions about Antsy

What does "Antsy" mean?

"Antsy" means restless, fidgety; also, impatient, eager. As an adjective, it is defined as: restless, fidgety; also, impatient, eager. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Antsy"?

Other words for "Antsy" include aflutter, anxious, atwitter, dithery, edgy, goosey, het up and hinky. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Antsy" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Antsy"?

There are 128 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Antsy". Common alternatives include aflutter, anxious, atwitter, dithery, edgy, goosey, het up, hinky, hung up and ill at ease.

What is a slang word for "Antsy"?

Slang words for "Antsy" include hinky, geeked and stoked.

What is the opposite of "Antsy"?

Antonyms of "Antsy" include calm, collected, cool, easy, happy-go-lucky, nerveless, relaxed and motionless. Near antonyms include confident, self-assured, self-confident and sure.

How do you use "Antsy" in a sentence?

Examples of "Antsy" in a sentence: "he was feeling understandably antsy about the tax audit"; "after a few minutes in the formal restaurant, the kids got antsy"; "she's been antsy to start what promises to be an exciting new job".

Is "Antsy" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Antsy" is an adjective.

How do you pronounce "Antsy"?

"Antsy" is pronounced /ˈant-sē/ and divided into syllables as ant·sy.