How much do you want to do something? English has a whole scale of words for it, from the burning eagerness of an ardent fan to the foot-dragging of a reluctant helper. Several of the eager words come from Latin words for heat: ardent from “burn,” fervent from “boil.”
Key idea
Eager: zealous (devoted to a cause), ardent and fervent (burning, glowing with feeling), avid (eager for more), keen (eager; also sharp), alacrity (cheerful speed, a noun). Unwilling: reluctant (hesitant), loath (unwilling), averse (opposed, turned away), grudging (given unwillingly).
The ten words
Common mistake
loath (unwilling, an adjective) is not loathe (to hate, a verb). averse (unwilling) is not adverse (harmful).
| eager word | its flavor | unwilling word | its flavor |
|---|---|---|---|
| zealous | devoted to a cause | reluctant | holds back, hesitates |
| ardent, fervent | burning, glowing feeling | loath | unwilling (an adjective) |
| avid | hungry for more | averse | turned away, opposed |
| keen | eager (or sharp) | grudging | done, but unwillingly |
| alacrity | cheerful speed (a noun) | reluctance | hesitation (a noun) |
Two sound-alike traps: loath (unwilling, an adjective) and loathe (to hate, a verb); averse (unwilling) and adverse (harmful, unfavorable). You are averse to risk; the weather is adverse.