antsy
adjective
ant·sy ˈant-sē 
1
informal : restless, fidgety
antsy children
also : impatient, eager
antsy for a new challenge
2
informal : nervous, apprehensive
antsy investors
Synonyms
- aflutter
- anxious
- atwitter
- dithery
- edgy
- goosey
- het up
- hinky [slang]
- hung up
- ill at ease
- insecure
- jittery
- jumpy
- nervous
- nervy
- perturbed
- queasy
- queazy
- tense
- troubled
- uneasy
- unquiet
- upset
- uptight
- worried
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
he was feeling understandably antsy about the tax audit after a few minutes in the formal restaurant, the kids got antsy
Recent Examples on the Web Moments later, Kuijken was again crowding Jenny from the back, getting increasingly antsy. 
Matt Fitzgerald, Outside Online, 19 Jan. 2021 But by Washington's standards, time is short and progressives are getting antsy. John Fritze, USA TODAY, 18 July 2022 The doctor was running late, and the mood was antsy. Naomi Fry, The New Yorker, 25 July 2022 Lots of employers are starting to get antsy about employees returning to the workplace, and have begun nudging them back. NBC News, 13 Apr. 2022 Some judges are getting antsy about how slow the cases are moving. Los Angeles Times, 11 Mar. 2022 Then again, that survey took place before consumers were so antsy about inflation driving up the costs of day-to-day living. New York Times, 18 Feb. 2022 Mark Gurman also points out that early adopters of the AirPods Pro are likely getting especially antsy as batteries begin to degrade. Jacob Siegal, BGR, 9 May 2022 Vanessa is appalled and immediately antsy to somehow take a stand. Jessica Kiang, Variety, 14 Mar. 2022 See More
Matt Fitzgerald, Outside Online, 19 Jan. 2021 But by Washington's standards, time is short and progressives are getting antsy. John Fritze, USA TODAY, 18 July 2022 The doctor was running late, and the mood was antsy. Naomi Fry, The New Yorker, 25 July 2022 Lots of employers are starting to get antsy about employees returning to the workplace, and have begun nudging them back. NBC News, 13 Apr. 2022 Some judges are getting antsy about how slow the cases are moving. Los Angeles Times, 11 Mar. 2022 Then again, that survey took place before consumers were so antsy about inflation driving up the costs of day-to-day living. New York Times, 18 Feb. 2022 Mark Gurman also points out that early adopters of the AirPods Pro are likely getting especially antsy as batteries begin to degrade. Jacob Siegal, BGR, 9 May 2022 Vanessa is appalled and immediately antsy to somehow take a stand. Jessica Kiang, Variety, 14 Mar. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
see ant entry 1
First Known Use
1950, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Kids Definition
antsy
adjective
ant·sy ˈant-sē
antsier; antsiest
: impatient and unable to keep still When he failed to arrive, I grew antsy.
antsy
adjective
1
as in worried
feeling or showing uncomfortable feelings of uncertainty he was feeling understandably antsy about the tax audit Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- worried
- anxious
- nervous
- upset
- uneasy
- apprehensive
- troubled
- concerned
- uptight
- jittery
- perturbed
- flustered
- jumpy
- tense
- hesitant
- disturbed
- bothered
- queasy
- restless
- insecure
- goosey
- freaked
- preoccupied
- on edge
- queazy
- obsessed
- nervy
- on tenterhooks
- aflutter
- dithery
- hinky
- distraught
- edgy
- keyed up
- unquiet
- atwitter
- hung up
- het up
- ill at ease
- fretful
- aggrieved
- disquieted
- distressed
- fidgety
- on pins and needles
- vexed
- fretting
- freaked-out
- foreboding
- misgiving
- stewing
- unnerved
- shook-up
- fluttery
- skittish
- qualmish
- unstrung
- twittered
- flighty
- undone
- high-strung
- spooky
- qualmy
- hypertense
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- relaxed
- calm
- easy
- cool
- nerveless
- confident
- sure
- collected
- happy-go-lucky
- self-assured
- controlled
- self-confident
- self-controlled
2
as in fidgety
making jerky or restless movements after a few minutes in the formal restaurant, the kids got antsy Synonyms & Similar Words
- fidgety
- worried
- twitchy
- upset
- anxious
- nervous
- wiggly
- shaking
- squirmy
- shivering
- troubled
- quivering
- wriggly
- trembling
- fluttery
- tense
- uptight
- perturbed
- jittery
- shivery
- aflutter
- jumpy
- quaking
- shuddering
- restive
- twittery
- uneasy
- nervy
- dithery
- edgy
- unquiet
- hung up
- het up
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- still
- easy
- motionless
- calm
- cool
- collected
- relaxed
3
as in excited
showing urgent desire or interest she's been antsy to start what promises to be an exciting new job Synonyms & Similar Words
- excited
- anxious
- eager
- avid
- enthusiastic
- hungry
- impatient
- keen
- ardent
- pumped
- enthused
- thirsty
- happy
- interested
- stoked
- desirous
- raring
- greedy
- nuts
- geeked
- voracious
- solicitous
- ready
- crazy
- agog
- athirst
- juiced
- wild
- great
- hot
- gung ho
- willing
- hopped-up
- obsessed
- restless
- chomping at the bit
- hepped up
- engaged
- champing at the bit
- longing
- craving
- glad
- ambitious
- hankering
- restive
- pining
- covetous
- breathless
- hung up
- game
- inclined
- amenable
- appetent
- disposed
- unreluctant
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- indifferent
- apathetic
- unenthusiastic
- uninterested
- unconcerned
- disinterested
- nonchalant
- casual
- aloof
- detached
- incurious
- reluctant
- insouciant
- hesitant
- unwilling
- lackadaisical
- uneager
- stolid
- impassive
- languid
- lukewarm
- halfhearted
- averse
- loath
- spiritless
- loth
- disinclined
- loathe
- languorous