enthusiastic
49 synonyms and 13 antonyms for enthusiastic, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adjective — Showing strong excitement, interest, or approval.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
How to use enthusiastic
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Ancient Greek enthousiastikos, related to "enthusiasm."
Full origin of enthusiastic →Frequently asked questions
What does “enthusiastic” mean?
The word “enthusiastic” means showing strong excitement, interest, or approval. In plain terms, full of eager excitement or approval.
How do you pronounce “enthusiastic”?
“Enthusiastic” is pronounced ihn-thyoo-zih-AS-tihk (/ɪnˌθuːziˈæstɪk/ in IPA).
How do you use “enthusiastic” in a sentence?
Here is “enthusiastic” used in a sentence: “The crowd gave an enthusiastic welcome to the returning team.”
What is another word for “enthusiastic”?
Words with a similar meaning to “enthusiastic” include animated, ardent, avid, big [⇒ thesaurus] [on], bubbly and eager.
What is the opposite of “enthusiastic”?
The opposite of “enthusiastic” — its antonyms — are apathetic, cold, dispassionate, frigid and impassive.
What part of speech is “enthusiastic”?
“Enthusiastic” is an adjective.
Where does the word “enthusiastic” come from?
The word “enthusiastic” comes from Ancient Greek. From Ancient Greek enthousiastikos, related to "enthusiasm.".
Is “enthusiastic” a common word?
“Enthusiastic” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
What is the difference between enthusiastic and eager?
Enthusiastic describes strong excitement, interest, or approval that is often expressed openly, while eager emphasizes an impatient readiness or desire to do something. A person can be eager to start a task without yet showing the outward excitement that enthusiastic implies.
What preposition follows enthusiastic?
Enthusiastic is typically followed by "about," as in "enthusiastic about the project," though it can also be paired with "over" in some contexts to describe strong excitement toward something.
Is enthusiastic a formal or informal word?
Enthusiastic is a neutral word appropriate for both formal and informal contexts, from professional reviews to casual conversation, unlike some of its more informal synonyms such as "gassed" or "geeked."