avidity

1 8.0

A very strong wish to have or do something

noun
/əˈvɪdəti/

: avididad

Costa recently wrote an essay titled "Narcissism in a Dark Age" that has been read with great avidity in Brazil.

Examples

John's avidity for collecting rare coins has led him to attend many auctions.
No sooner were the Romans gone than the pig sent the Scots like worms, which in the heat of midday came forth inspired with the same avidity for blood.
Her avidity for learning new languages has made her a skilled communicator.
The team's avidity for success motivated them to train harder than ever.

Synonyms

interest

vsavidity

∞ 1.0

A feeling of wanting to know more about something

is about active wanting to obtain or do, not just curiosity

passion

vsavidity

463 2.5

A very strong feeling that makes someone act, like love or anger

is narrower, focusing on eager wanting rather than broad emotional force

excitement

vsavidity

434 1.0

A strong feeling of happiness and eagerness, or something that causes it

centers on eager desire to obtain or do rather than excited feeling

curiosity

vsavidity

318 2.2

A strong wish to learn or know things

focuses on wanting or obtaining broadly rather than learning specifically

enthusiasm

vsavidity

288 2.2

A strong feeling of excitement and interest in something

is about intense wanting or eagerness rather than general positive feeling

fervor

vsavidity

34 6.3

A strong, excited belief in a cause or idea

is closer to eager wanting rather than purely emotional intensity

eagerness

vsavidity

23 2.5

A strong, excited wish to do or have something

focuses on intense wanting rather than mild interest

gusto

vsavidity

21 5.2

Strong, lively enjoyment when doing something

is more focused on wanting and seeking than on active enjoyment

ardor

vsavidity

7 7.5

A strong feeling of love and excitement for someone or something

is more about keen desire and eagerness than burning emotion

alacrity

vsavidity

4 8.4

A quick and eager willingness to do something

is about eager wanting in general rather than prompt willing action

zealousness

vsavidity

1 5.6

A strong, eager interest in a cause or idea

leans more toward strong wanting without necessarily political or moral commitment

keenness

vsavidity

1 3.6

A strong wish to do something

is similar but stresses general strong wanting rather than sharpness

avidness

vsavidity

6.6

A very strong and eager interest in something

is the same in meaning but differs mainly in word form

passionateness

vsavidity

Archaic

7.1

Strong feelings that make someone act with great energy and care

emphasizes desire and eagerness rather than broad emotional depth

interestedness

vsavidity

7.6

A feeling of wanting to know more about something

is stronger, indicating urgent wanting rather than simple attention

curiousness

vsavidity

3.4

A strong want to know or learn about things

is broader, stressing strong desire to obtain or possess things

Antonyms

indifference

71 4.6

Lack of interest or concern about something

apathy

43 6.2

A lack of interest or care about things

How Eager

zeal

36 5.8

fervor

34 6.3

enthusiasm

288 2.2

avidity

1 8.0

eagerness

23 2.5

interest

∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

avidity singular

avidities plural

Morphology

avidity = avid (transparent) = avid + ity

The noun is formed by the regular nominalizing suffix '-ity' added to the adjective 'avid', yielding the state or quality of being eager.

Etymology

Avidity comes from the old Latin word avidus, which means 'eager' or 'greedy', and it shares the same root as the English word avid. So avidity simply means a strong eagerness or desire for something.