diff --git a/telegram/base.py b/telegram/base.py
index c0c034405..a3f9b0b46 100644
--- a/telegram/base.py
+++ b/telegram/base.py
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ except ImportError:
     import json  # type: ignore[no-redef]
 
 import warnings
-from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Any, List, Optional, Tuple, Type, TypeVar
+from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, List, Optional, Tuple, Type, TypeVar
 
 from telegram.utils.types import JSONDict
 
@@ -36,15 +36,12 @@ TO = TypeVar('TO', bound='TelegramObject', covariant=True)
 class TelegramObject:
     """Base class for most telegram objects."""
 
-    # def __init__(self, *args: Any, **_kwargs: Any):
-    #     pass
-
-    _id_attrs: Tuple[Any, ...] = ()
+    _id_attrs: Tuple[object, ...] = ()
 
     def __str__(self) -> str:
         return str(self.to_dict())
 
-    def __getitem__(self, item: str) -> Any:
+    def __getitem__(self, item: str) -> object:
         return self.__dict__[item]
 
     @staticmethod
diff --git a/telegram/bot.py b/telegram/bot.py
index 0fe60c1c6..caab95274 100644
--- a/telegram/bot.py
+++ b/telegram/bot.py
@@ -27,7 +27,6 @@ from datetime import datetime
 
 from typing import (
     TYPE_CHECKING,
-    Any,
     Callable,
     List,
     Optional,
@@ -110,11 +109,11 @@ RT = TypeVar('RT')
 
 
 def log(
-    func: Callable[..., RT], *args: Any, **kwargs: Any  # pylint: disable=W0613
+    func: Callable[..., RT], *args: object, **kwargs: object  # pylint: disable=W0613
 ) -> Callable[..., RT]:
     logger = logging.getLogger(func.__module__)
 
-    def decorator(self: 'Bot', *args: Any, **kwargs: Any) -> RT:  # pylint: disable=W0613
+    def decorator(self: 'Bot', *args: object, **kwargs: object) -> RT:  # pylint: disable=W0613
         logger.debug('Entering: %s', func.__name__)
         result = func(*args, **kwargs)
         logger.debug(result)
@@ -150,7 +149,7 @@ class Bot(TelegramObject):
 
     """
 
-    def __new__(cls, *args: Any, **kwargs: Any) -> 'Bot':  # pylint: disable=W0613
+    def __new__(cls, *args: object, **kwargs: object) -> 'Bot':  # pylint: disable=W0613
         # Get default values from kwargs
         defaults = kwargs.get('defaults')
 
diff --git a/telegram/chat.py b/telegram/chat.py
index 82155532b..dc55ffbe0 100644
--- a/telegram/chat.py
+++ b/telegram/chat.py
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@
 # along with this program.  If not, see [http://www.gnu.org/licenses/].
 """This module contains an object that represents a Telegram Chat."""
 from datetime import datetime
-from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Any, List, Optional, ClassVar, Union, Tuple
+from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, List, Optional, ClassVar, Union, Tuple, Any
 
 from telegram import ChatPhoto, TelegramObject, constants
 from telegram.utils.types import JSONDict, FileInput
diff --git a/telegram/ext/basepersistence.py b/telegram/ext/basepersistence.py
index 3244da61a..834bfa7f2 100644
--- a/telegram/ext/basepersistence.py
+++ b/telegram/ext/basepersistence.py
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@
 import warnings
 from abc import ABC, abstractmethod
 from copy import copy
-from typing import Any, DefaultDict, Dict, Optional, Tuple, cast, ClassVar
+from typing import DefaultDict, Dict, Optional, Tuple, cast, ClassVar
 
 from telegram import Bot
 
@@ -75,7 +75,9 @@ class BasePersistence(ABC):
             persistence class.
     """
 
-    def __new__(cls, *args: Any, **kwargs: Any) -> 'BasePersistence':  # pylint: disable=W0613
+    def __new__(
+        cls, *args: object, **kwargs: object  # pylint: disable=W0613
+    ) -> 'BasePersistence':
         instance = super().__new__(cls)
         get_user_data = instance.get_user_data
         get_chat_data = instance.get_chat_data
@@ -84,13 +86,13 @@ class BasePersistence(ABC):
         update_chat_data = instance.update_chat_data
         update_bot_data = instance.update_bot_data
 
-        def get_user_data_insert_bot() -> DefaultDict[int, Dict[Any, Any]]:
+        def get_user_data_insert_bot() -> DefaultDict[int, Dict[object, object]]:
             return instance.insert_bot(get_user_data())
 
-        def get_chat_data_insert_bot() -> DefaultDict[int, Dict[Any, Any]]:
+        def get_chat_data_insert_bot() -> DefaultDict[int, Dict[object, object]]:
             return instance.insert_bot(get_chat_data())
 
-        def get_bot_data_insert_bot() -> Dict[Any, Any]:
+        def get_bot_data_insert_bot() -> Dict[object, object]:
             return instance.insert_bot(get_bot_data())
 
         def update_user_data_replace_bot(user_id: int, data: Dict) -> None:
@@ -146,7 +148,7 @@ class BasePersistence(ABC):
         return cls._replace_bot(obj, {})
 
     @classmethod
-    def _replace_bot(cls, obj: object, memo: Dict[int, Any]) -> object:  # pylint: disable=R0911
+    def _replace_bot(cls, obj: object, memo: Dict[int, object]) -> object:  # pylint: disable=R0911
         obj_id = id(obj)
         if obj_id in memo:
             return memo[obj_id]
@@ -223,7 +225,7 @@ class BasePersistence(ABC):
         """
         return self._insert_bot(obj, {})
 
-    def _insert_bot(self, obj: object, memo: Dict[int, Any]) -> object:  # pylint: disable=R0911
+    def _insert_bot(self, obj: object, memo: Dict[int, object]) -> object:  # pylint: disable=R0911
         obj_id = id(obj)
         if obj_id in memo:
             return memo[obj_id]
@@ -288,7 +290,7 @@ class BasePersistence(ABC):
         return obj
 
     @abstractmethod
-    def get_user_data(self) -> DefaultDict[int, Dict[Any, Any]]:
+    def get_user_data(self) -> DefaultDict[int, Dict[object, object]]:
         """ "Will be called by :class:`telegram.ext.Dispatcher` upon creation with a
         persistence object. It should return the ``user_data`` if stored, or an empty
         ``defaultdict(dict)``.
@@ -298,7 +300,7 @@ class BasePersistence(ABC):
         """
 
     @abstractmethod
-    def get_chat_data(self) -> DefaultDict[int, Dict[Any, Any]]:
+    def get_chat_data(self) -> DefaultDict[int, Dict[object, object]]:
         """ "Will be called by :class:`telegram.ext.Dispatcher` upon creation with a
         persistence object. It should return the ``chat_data`` if stored, or an empty
         ``defaultdict(dict)``.
@@ -308,7 +310,7 @@ class BasePersistence(ABC):
         """
 
     @abstractmethod
-    def get_bot_data(self) -> Dict[Any, Any]:
+    def get_bot_data(self) -> Dict[object, object]:
         """ "Will be called by :class:`telegram.ext.Dispatcher` upon creation with a
         persistence object. It should return the ``bot_data`` if stored, or an empty
         :obj:`dict`.
diff --git a/telegram/ext/callbackcontext.py b/telegram/ext/callbackcontext.py
index 9af2d8f0f..bb09fe628 100644
--- a/telegram/ext/callbackcontext.py
+++ b/telegram/ext/callbackcontext.py
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@
 # pylint: disable=R0201
 """This module contains the CallbackContext class."""
 from queue import Queue
-from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Any, Dict, List, Match, NoReturn, Optional, Tuple, Union
+from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Dict, List, Match, NoReturn, Optional, Tuple, Union
 
 from telegram import Update
 
@@ -98,14 +98,14 @@ class CallbackContext:
             )
         self._dispatcher = dispatcher
         self._bot_data = dispatcher.bot_data
-        self._chat_data: Optional[Dict[Any, Any]] = None
-        self._user_data: Optional[Dict[Any, Any]] = None
+        self._chat_data: Optional[Dict[object, object]] = None
+        self._user_data: Optional[Dict[object, object]] = None
         self.args: Optional[List[str]] = None
         self.matches: Optional[List[Match]] = None
         self.error: Optional[Exception] = None
         self.job: Optional['Job'] = None
         self.async_args: Optional[Union[List, Tuple]] = None
-        self.async_kwargs: Optional[Dict[str, Any]] = None
+        self.async_kwargs: Optional[Dict[str, object]] = None
 
     @property
     def dispatcher(self) -> 'Dispatcher':
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@ class CallbackContext:
         return self._bot_data
 
     @bot_data.setter
-    def bot_data(self, value: Any) -> NoReturn:
+    def bot_data(self, value: object) -> NoReturn:
         raise AttributeError(
             "You can not assign a new value to bot_data, see " "https://git.io/fjxKe"
         )
@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@ class CallbackContext:
         return self._chat_data
 
     @chat_data.setter
-    def chat_data(self, value: Any) -> NoReturn:
+    def chat_data(self, value: object) -> NoReturn:
         raise AttributeError(
             "You can not assign a new value to chat_data, see " "https://git.io/fjxKe"
         )
@@ -137,7 +137,7 @@ class CallbackContext:
         return self._user_data
 
     @user_data.setter
-    def user_data(self, value: Any) -> NoReturn:
+    def user_data(self, value: object) -> NoReturn:
         raise AttributeError(
             "You can not assign a new value to user_data, see " "https://git.io/fjxKe"
         )
@@ -149,7 +149,7 @@ class CallbackContext:
         error: Exception,
         dispatcher: 'Dispatcher',
         async_args: Union[List, Tuple] = None,
-        async_kwargs: Dict[str, Any] = None,
+        async_kwargs: Dict[str, object] = None,
     ) -> 'CallbackContext':
         self = cls.from_update(update, dispatcher)
         self.error = error
@@ -177,7 +177,7 @@ class CallbackContext:
         self.job = job
         return self
 
-    def update(self, data: Dict[str, Any]) -> None:
+    def update(self, data: Dict[str, object]) -> None:
         self.__dict__.update(data)
 
     @property
diff --git a/telegram/ext/callbackqueryhandler.py b/telegram/ext/callbackqueryhandler.py
index ee13e8964..285f11bb5 100644
--- a/telegram/ext/callbackqueryhandler.py
+++ b/telegram/ext/callbackqueryhandler.py
@@ -21,7 +21,6 @@
 import re
 from typing import (
     TYPE_CHECKING,
-    Any,
     Callable,
     Dict,
     Match,
@@ -148,7 +147,7 @@ class CallbackQueryHandler(Handler[Update]):
         self.pass_groups = pass_groups
         self.pass_groupdict = pass_groupdict
 
-    def check_update(self, update: Any) -> Optional[Union[bool, object]]:
+    def check_update(self, update: object) -> Optional[Union[bool, object]]:
         """Determines whether an update should be passed to this handlers :attr:`callback`.
 
         Args:
@@ -173,7 +172,7 @@ class CallbackQueryHandler(Handler[Update]):
         dispatcher: 'Dispatcher',
         update: Update = None,
         check_result: Union[bool, Match] = None,
-    ) -> Dict[str, Any]:
+    ) -> Dict[str, object]:
         optional_args = super().collect_optional_args(dispatcher, update, check_result)
         if self.pattern:
             check_result = cast(Match, check_result)
diff --git a/telegram/ext/choseninlineresulthandler.py b/telegram/ext/choseninlineresulthandler.py
index 2b89636f9..07ce5283a 100644
--- a/telegram/ext/choseninlineresulthandler.py
+++ b/telegram/ext/choseninlineresulthandler.py
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@
 # along with this program.  If not, see [http://www.gnu.org/licenses/].
 """This module contains the ChosenInlineResultHandler class."""
 
-from typing import Optional, TypeVar, Union, Any
+from typing import Optional, TypeVar, Union
 
 from telegram import Update
 
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ class ChosenInlineResultHandler(Handler[Update]):
 
     """
 
-    def check_update(self, update: Any) -> Optional[Union[bool, object]]:
+    def check_update(self, update: object) -> Optional[Union[bool, object]]:
         """Determines whether an update should be passed to this handlers :attr:`callback`.
 
         Args:
diff --git a/telegram/ext/commandhandler.py b/telegram/ext/commandhandler.py
index df7a82906..4b38b4994 100644
--- a/telegram/ext/commandhandler.py
+++ b/telegram/ext/commandhandler.py
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@
 """This module contains the CommandHandler and PrefixHandler classes."""
 import re
 import warnings
-from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Any, Callable, Dict, List, Optional, Tuple, TypeVar, Union
+from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Callable, Dict, List, Optional, Tuple, TypeVar, Union
 
 from telegram import MessageEntity, Update
 from telegram.ext import BaseFilter, Filters
@@ -177,7 +177,7 @@ class CommandHandler(Handler[Update]):
         self.pass_args = pass_args
 
     def check_update(
-        self, update: Any
+        self, update: object
     ) -> Optional[Union[bool, Tuple[List[str], Optional[Union[bool, Dict]]]]]:
         """Determines whether an update should be passed to this handlers :attr:`callback`.
 
@@ -220,7 +220,7 @@ class CommandHandler(Handler[Update]):
         dispatcher: 'Dispatcher',
         update: Update = None,
         check_result: Optional[Union[bool, Tuple[List[str], Optional[bool]]]] = None,
-    ) -> Dict[str, Any]:
+    ) -> Dict[str, object]:
         optional_args = super().collect_optional_args(dispatcher, update)
         if self.pass_args and isinstance(check_result, tuple):
             optional_args['args'] = check_result[0]
@@ -415,7 +415,7 @@ class PrefixHandler(CommandHandler):
         self._commands = [x.lower() + y.lower() for x in self.prefix for y in self.command]
 
     def check_update(
-        self, update: Update
+        self, update: object
     ) -> Optional[Union[bool, Tuple[List[str], Optional[Union[bool, Dict]]]]]:
         """Determines whether an update should be passed to this handlers :attr:`callback`.
 
diff --git a/telegram/ext/conversationhandler.py b/telegram/ext/conversationhandler.py
index 2bee77406..50e6668e0 100644
--- a/telegram/ext/conversationhandler.py
+++ b/telegram/ext/conversationhandler.py
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@
 import logging
 import warnings
 from threading import Lock
-from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Any, Dict, List, NoReturn, Optional, Tuple, cast, ClassVar
+from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Dict, List, NoReturn, Optional, Tuple, cast, ClassVar
 
 from telegram import Update
 from telegram.ext import (
@@ -286,7 +286,7 @@ class ConversationHandler(Handler[Update]):
         return self._entry_points
 
     @entry_points.setter
-    def entry_points(self, value: Any) -> NoReturn:
+    def entry_points(self, value: object) -> NoReturn:
         raise ValueError('You can not assign a new value to entry_points after initialization.')
 
     @property
@@ -294,7 +294,7 @@ class ConversationHandler(Handler[Update]):
         return self._states
 
     @states.setter
-    def states(self, value: Any) -> NoReturn:
+    def states(self, value: object) -> NoReturn:
         raise ValueError('You can not assign a new value to states after initialization.')
 
     @property
@@ -302,7 +302,7 @@ class ConversationHandler(Handler[Update]):
         return self._fallbacks
 
     @fallbacks.setter
-    def fallbacks(self, value: Any) -> NoReturn:
+    def fallbacks(self, value: object) -> NoReturn:
         raise ValueError('You can not assign a new value to fallbacks after initialization.')
 
     @property
@@ -310,7 +310,7 @@ class ConversationHandler(Handler[Update]):
         return self._allow_reentry
 
     @allow_reentry.setter
-    def allow_reentry(self, value: Any) -> NoReturn:
+    def allow_reentry(self, value: object) -> NoReturn:
         raise ValueError('You can not assign a new value to allow_reentry after initialization.')
 
     @property
@@ -318,7 +318,7 @@ class ConversationHandler(Handler[Update]):
         return self._per_user
 
     @per_user.setter
-    def per_user(self, value: Any) -> NoReturn:
+    def per_user(self, value: object) -> NoReturn:
         raise ValueError('You can not assign a new value to per_user after initialization.')
 
     @property
@@ -326,7 +326,7 @@ class ConversationHandler(Handler[Update]):
         return self._per_chat
 
     @per_chat.setter
-    def per_chat(self, value: Any) -> NoReturn:
+    def per_chat(self, value: object) -> NoReturn:
         raise ValueError('You can not assign a new value to per_chat after initialization.')
 
     @property
@@ -334,7 +334,7 @@ class ConversationHandler(Handler[Update]):
         return self._per_message
 
     @per_message.setter
-    def per_message(self, value: Any) -> NoReturn:
+    def per_message(self, value: object) -> NoReturn:
         raise ValueError('You can not assign a new value to per_message after initialization.')
 
     @property
@@ -342,7 +342,7 @@ class ConversationHandler(Handler[Update]):
         return self._conversation_timeout
 
     @conversation_timeout.setter
-    def conversation_timeout(self, value: Any) -> NoReturn:
+    def conversation_timeout(self, value: object) -> NoReturn:
         raise ValueError(
             'You can not assign a new value to conversation_timeout after ' 'initialization.'
         )
@@ -352,7 +352,7 @@ class ConversationHandler(Handler[Update]):
         return self._name
 
     @name.setter
-    def name(self, value: Any) -> NoReturn:
+    def name(self, value: object) -> NoReturn:
         raise ValueError('You can not assign a new value to name after initialization.')
 
     @property
@@ -360,7 +360,7 @@ class ConversationHandler(Handler[Update]):
         return self._map_to_parent
 
     @map_to_parent.setter
-    def map_to_parent(self, value: Any) -> NoReturn:
+    def map_to_parent(self, value: object) -> NoReturn:
         raise ValueError('You can not assign a new value to map_to_parent after initialization.')
 
     @property
@@ -409,7 +409,7 @@ class ConversationHandler(Handler[Update]):
 
         return tuple(key)
 
-    def check_update(self, update: Any) -> CheckUpdateType:  # pylint: disable=R0911
+    def check_update(self, update: object) -> CheckUpdateType:  # pylint: disable=R0911
         """
         Determines whether an update should be handled by this conversationhandler, and if so in
         which state the conversation currently is.
diff --git a/telegram/ext/defaults.py b/telegram/ext/defaults.py
index e99d4c8ec..417d9158a 100644
--- a/telegram/ext/defaults.py
+++ b/telegram/ext/defaults.py
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@
 # along with this program.  If not, see [http://www.gnu.org/licenses/].
 # pylint: disable=R0201, E0401
 """This module contains the class Defaults, which allows to pass default values to Updater."""
-from typing import Any, NoReturn, Optional, Union
+from typing import NoReturn, Optional, Union
 
 import pytz
 
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ class Defaults:
         return self._parse_mode
 
     @parse_mode.setter
-    def parse_mode(self, value: Any) -> NoReturn:
+    def parse_mode(self, value: object) -> NoReturn:
         raise AttributeError(
             "You can not assign a new value to defaults after because it would "
             "not have any effect."
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@ class Defaults:
         return self._disable_notification
 
     @disable_notification.setter
-    def disable_notification(self, value: Any) -> NoReturn:
+    def disable_notification(self, value: object) -> NoReturn:
         raise AttributeError(
             "You can not assign a new value to defaults after because it would "
             "not have any effect."
@@ -122,7 +122,7 @@ class Defaults:
         return self._disable_web_page_preview
 
     @disable_web_page_preview.setter
-    def disable_web_page_preview(self, value: Any) -> NoReturn:
+    def disable_web_page_preview(self, value: object) -> NoReturn:
         raise AttributeError(
             "You can not assign a new value to defaults after because it would "
             "not have any effect."
@@ -133,7 +133,7 @@ class Defaults:
         return self._allow_sending_without_reply
 
     @allow_sending_without_reply.setter
-    def allow_sending_without_reply(self, value: Any) -> NoReturn:
+    def allow_sending_without_reply(self, value: object) -> NoReturn:
         raise AttributeError(
             "You can not assign a new value to defaults after because it would "
             "not have any effect."
@@ -144,7 +144,7 @@ class Defaults:
         return self._timeout
 
     @timeout.setter
-    def timeout(self, value: Any) -> NoReturn:
+    def timeout(self, value: object) -> NoReturn:
         raise AttributeError(
             "You can not assign a new value to defaults after because it would "
             "not have any effect."
@@ -155,7 +155,7 @@ class Defaults:
         return self._quote
 
     @quote.setter
-    def quote(self, value: Any) -> NoReturn:
+    def quote(self, value: object) -> NoReturn:
         raise AttributeError(
             "You can not assign a new value to defaults after because it would "
             "not have any effect."
@@ -166,7 +166,7 @@ class Defaults:
         return self._tzinfo
 
     @tzinfo.setter
-    def tzinfo(self, value: Any) -> NoReturn:
+    def tzinfo(self, value: object) -> NoReturn:
         raise AttributeError(
             "You can not assign a new value to defaults after because it would "
             "not have any effect."
@@ -177,7 +177,7 @@ class Defaults:
         return self._run_async
 
     @run_async.setter
-    def run_async(self, value: Any) -> NoReturn:
+    def run_async(self, value: object) -> NoReturn:
         raise AttributeError(
             "You can not assign a new value to defaults after because it would "
             "not have any effect."
diff --git a/telegram/ext/dictpersistence.py b/telegram/ext/dictpersistence.py
index 26165b7ef..572a27e85 100644
--- a/telegram/ext/dictpersistence.py
+++ b/telegram/ext/dictpersistence.py
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@
 """This module contains the DictPersistence class."""
 from copy import deepcopy
 
-from typing import Any, DefaultDict, Dict, Optional, Tuple
+from typing import DefaultDict, Dict, Optional, Tuple
 from collections import defaultdict
 
 from telegram.utils.helpers import (
@@ -169,7 +169,7 @@ class DictPersistence(BasePersistence):
         return json.dumps(self.bot_data)
 
     @property
-    def conversations(self) -> Optional[Dict[str, Dict[Tuple, Any]]]:
+    def conversations(self) -> Optional[Dict[str, Dict[Tuple, object]]]:
         """:obj:`dict`: The conversations as a dict."""
         return self._conversations
 
@@ -180,7 +180,7 @@ class DictPersistence(BasePersistence):
             return self._conversations_json
         return encode_conversations_to_json(self.conversations)  # type: ignore[arg-type]
 
-    def get_user_data(self) -> DefaultDict[int, Dict[Any, Any]]:
+    def get_user_data(self) -> DefaultDict[int, Dict[object, object]]:
         """Returns the user_data created from the ``user_data_json`` or an empty
         :obj:`defaultdict`.
 
@@ -193,7 +193,7 @@ class DictPersistence(BasePersistence):
             self._user_data = defaultdict(dict)
         return deepcopy(self.user_data)  # type: ignore[arg-type]
 
-    def get_chat_data(self) -> DefaultDict[int, Dict[Any, Any]]:
+    def get_chat_data(self) -> DefaultDict[int, Dict[object, object]]:
         """Returns the chat_data created from the ``chat_data_json`` or an empty
         :obj:`defaultdict`.
 
@@ -206,7 +206,7 @@ class DictPersistence(BasePersistence):
             self._chat_data = defaultdict(dict)
         return deepcopy(self.chat_data)  # type: ignore[arg-type]
 
-    def get_bot_data(self) -> Dict[Any, Any]:
+    def get_bot_data(self) -> Dict[object, object]:
         """Returns the bot_data created from the ``bot_data_json`` or an empty :obj:`dict`.
 
         Returns:
diff --git a/telegram/ext/dispatcher.py b/telegram/ext/dispatcher.py
index abde3ffa3..eeb67ceaf 100644
--- a/telegram/ext/dispatcher.py
+++ b/telegram/ext/dispatcher.py
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ from functools import wraps
 from queue import Empty, Queue
 from threading import BoundedSemaphore, Event, Lock, Thread, current_thread
 from time import sleep
-from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Any, Callable, DefaultDict, Dict, List, Optional, Set, Union
+from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Callable, DefaultDict, Dict, List, Optional, Set, Union
 from uuid import uuid4
 
 from telegram import TelegramError, Update
@@ -45,8 +45,8 @@ DEFAULT_GROUP: int = 0
 
 
 def run_async(
-    func: Callable[[Update, CallbackContext], Any]
-) -> Callable[[Update, CallbackContext], Any]:
+    func: Callable[[Update, CallbackContext], object]
+) -> Callable[[Update, CallbackContext], object]:
     """
     Function decorator that will run the function in a new thread.
 
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ def run_async(
     """
 
     @wraps(func)
-    def async_func(*args: Any, **kwargs: Any) -> Any:
+    def async_func(*args: object, **kwargs: object) -> object:
         warnings.warn(
             'The @run_async decorator is deprecated. Use the `run_async` parameter of '
             'your Handler or `Dispatcher.run_async` instead.',
@@ -162,8 +162,8 @@ class Dispatcher:
                 stacklevel=3,
             )
 
-        self.user_data: DefaultDict[int, Dict[Any, Any]] = defaultdict(dict)
-        self.chat_data: DefaultDict[int, Dict[Any, Any]] = defaultdict(dict)
+        self.user_data: DefaultDict[int, Dict[object, object]] = defaultdict(dict)
+        self.chat_data: DefaultDict[int, Dict[object, object]] = defaultdict(dict)
         self.bot_data = {}
         self.persistence: Optional[BasePersistence] = None
         self._update_persistence_lock = Lock()
@@ -287,7 +287,7 @@ class Dispatcher:
                 self.logger.exception('An uncaught error was raised while handling the error.')
 
     def run_async(
-        self, func: Callable[..., Any], *args: Any, update: Any = None, **kwargs: Any
+        self, func: Callable[..., object], *args: object, update: object = None, **kwargs: object
     ) -> Promise:
         """
         Queue a function (with given args/kwargs) to be run asynchronously. Exceptions raised
@@ -316,11 +316,11 @@ class Dispatcher:
 
     def _run_async(
         self,
-        func: Callable[..., Any],
-        *args: Any,
-        update: Any = None,
+        func: Callable[..., object],
+        *args: object,
+        update: object = None,
         error_handling: bool = True,
-        **kwargs: Any,
+        **kwargs: object,
     ) -> Promise:
         # TODO: Remove error_handling parameter once we drop the @run_async decorator
         promise = Promise(func, args, kwargs, update=update, error_handling=error_handling)
@@ -402,7 +402,7 @@ class Dispatcher:
     def has_running_threads(self) -> bool:
         return self.running or bool(self.__async_threads)
 
-    def process_update(self, update: Any) -> None:
+    def process_update(self, update: object) -> None:
         """Processes a single update and updates the persistence.
 
         Note:
@@ -530,7 +530,7 @@ class Dispatcher:
                 del self.handlers[group]
                 self.groups.remove(group)
 
-    def update_persistence(self, update: Any = None) -> None:
+    def update_persistence(self, update: object = None) -> None:
         """Update :attr:`user_data`, :attr:`chat_data` and :attr:`bot_data` in :attr:`persistence`.
 
         Args:
@@ -540,7 +540,7 @@ class Dispatcher:
         with self._update_persistence_lock:
             self.__update_persistence(update)
 
-    def __update_persistence(self, update: Any = None) -> None:
+    def __update_persistence(self, update: object = None) -> None:
         if self.persistence:
             # We use list() here in order to decouple chat_ids from self.chat_data, as dict view
             # objects will change, when the dict does and we want to loop over chat_ids
@@ -601,7 +601,7 @@ class Dispatcher:
 
     def add_error_handler(
         self,
-        callback: Callable[[Any, CallbackContext], None],
+        callback: Callable[[object, CallbackContext], None],
         run_async: Union[bool, DefaultValue] = DEFAULT_FALSE,  # pylint: disable=W0621
     ) -> None:
         """Registers an error handler in the Dispatcher. This handler will receive every error
@@ -637,7 +637,7 @@ class Dispatcher:
 
         self.error_handlers[callback] = run_async
 
-    def remove_error_handler(self, callback: Callable[[Any, CallbackContext], None]) -> None:
+    def remove_error_handler(self, callback: Callable[[object, CallbackContext], None]) -> None:
         """Removes an error handler.
 
         Args:
@@ -647,12 +647,12 @@ class Dispatcher:
         self.error_handlers.pop(callback, None)
 
     def dispatch_error(
-        self, update: Optional[Any], error: Exception, promise: Promise = None
+        self, update: Optional[object], error: Exception, promise: Promise = None
     ) -> None:
         """Dispatches an error.
 
         Args:
-            update (:obj:`Any` | :class:`telegram.Update`): The update that caused the error.
+            update (:obj:`object` | :class:`telegram.Update`): The update that caused the error.
             error (:obj:`Exception`): The error that was raised.
             promise (:class:`telegram.utils.Promise`, optional): The promise whose pooled function
                 raised the error.
diff --git a/telegram/ext/handler.py b/telegram/ext/handler.py
index f381bad52..eb2d46dd1 100644
--- a/telegram/ext/handler.py
+++ b/telegram/ext/handler.py
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@ class Handler(Generic[UT], ABC):
         self.run_async = run_async
 
     @abstractmethod
-    def check_update(self, update: Any) -> Optional[Union[bool, object]]:
+    def check_update(self, update: object) -> Optional[Union[bool, object]]:
         """
         This method is called to determine if an update should be handled by
         this handler instance. It should always be overridden.
@@ -188,7 +188,7 @@ class Handler(Generic[UT], ABC):
         dispatcher: 'Dispatcher',
         update: UT = None,
         check_result: Any = None,  # pylint: disable=W0613
-    ) -> Dict[str, Any]:
+    ) -> Dict[str, object]:
         """
         Prepares the optional arguments. If the handler has additional optional args,
         it should subclass this method, but remember to call this super method.
@@ -202,7 +202,7 @@ class Handler(Generic[UT], ABC):
             check_result: The result from check_update
 
         """
-        optional_args: Dict[str, Any] = dict()
+        optional_args: Dict[str, object] = dict()
 
         if self.pass_update_queue:
             optional_args['update_queue'] = dispatcher.update_queue
diff --git a/telegram/ext/inlinequeryhandler.py b/telegram/ext/inlinequeryhandler.py
index 79f3d7b18..9342cc39a 100644
--- a/telegram/ext/inlinequeryhandler.py
+++ b/telegram/ext/inlinequeryhandler.py
@@ -20,7 +20,6 @@
 import re
 from typing import (
     TYPE_CHECKING,
-    Any,
     Callable,
     Dict,
     Match,
@@ -147,7 +146,7 @@ class InlineQueryHandler(Handler[Update]):
         self.pass_groups = pass_groups
         self.pass_groupdict = pass_groupdict
 
-    def check_update(self, update: Any) -> Optional[Union[bool, Match]]:
+    def check_update(self, update: object) -> Optional[Union[bool, Match]]:
         """
         Determines whether an update should be passed to this handlers :attr:`callback`.
 
@@ -174,7 +173,7 @@ class InlineQueryHandler(Handler[Update]):
         dispatcher: 'Dispatcher',
         update: Update = None,
         check_result: Optional[Union[bool, Match]] = None,
-    ) -> Dict[str, Any]:
+    ) -> Dict[str, object]:
         optional_args = super().collect_optional_args(dispatcher, update, check_result)
         if self.pattern:
             check_result = cast(Match, check_result)
diff --git a/telegram/ext/jobqueue.py b/telegram/ext/jobqueue.py
index f58cf1fd9..b637a76ea 100644
--- a/telegram/ext/jobqueue.py
+++ b/telegram/ext/jobqueue.py
@@ -21,13 +21,14 @@
 
 import datetime
 import logging
-from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Any, Callable, List, Optional, Tuple, Union, cast, overload
+from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Callable, List, Optional, Tuple, Union, cast, overload
 
 import pytz
 from apscheduler.events import EVENT_JOB_ERROR, EVENT_JOB_EXECUTED, JobEvent
 from apscheduler.schedulers.background import BackgroundScheduler
 from apscheduler.triggers.combining import OrTrigger
 from apscheduler.triggers.cron import CronTrigger
+from apscheduler.job import Job as APSJob
 
 from telegram.ext.callbackcontext import CallbackContext
 from telegram.utils.types import JSONDict
@@ -35,6 +36,7 @@ from telegram.utils.types import JSONDict
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
     from telegram import Bot
     from telegram.ext import Dispatcher
+    import apscheduler.job  # noqa: F401
 
 
 class Days:
@@ -551,7 +553,7 @@ class Job:
         context: object = None,
         name: str = None,
         job_queue: JobQueue = None,
-        job: 'Job' = None,
+        job: APSJob = None,
     ):
 
         self.callback = callback
@@ -562,7 +564,7 @@ class Job:
         self._removed = False
         self._enabled = False
 
-        self.job = cast('Job', job)
+        self.job = cast(APSJob, job)
 
     def run(self, dispatcher: 'Dispatcher') -> None:
         """Executes the callback function independently of the jobs schedule."""
@@ -618,7 +620,7 @@ class Job:
         return self.job.next_run_time
 
     @classmethod
-    def from_aps_job(cls, job: 'Job', job_queue: JobQueue) -> 'Job':
+    def from_aps_job(cls, job: APSJob, job_queue: JobQueue) -> 'Job':
         # context based callbacks
         if len(job.args) == 1:
             context = job.args[0].job.context
@@ -626,7 +628,7 @@ class Job:
             context = job.args[1].context
         return cls(job.func, context=context, name=job.name, job_queue=job_queue, job=job)
 
-    def __getattr__(self, item: str) -> Any:
+    def __getattr__(self, item: str) -> object:
         return getattr(self.job, item)
 
     def __lt__(self, other: object) -> bool:
diff --git a/telegram/ext/messagehandler.py b/telegram/ext/messagehandler.py
index 333131240..79940c0d7 100644
--- a/telegram/ext/messagehandler.py
+++ b/telegram/ext/messagehandler.py
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@
 # TODO: Remove allow_edited
 """This module contains the MessageHandler class."""
 import warnings
-from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Any, Callable, Dict, Optional, TypeVar, Union
+from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Callable, Dict, Optional, TypeVar, Union
 
 from telegram import Update
 from telegram.ext import BaseFilter, Filters
@@ -179,7 +179,7 @@ class MessageHandler(Handler[Update]):
                     Filters.update.edited_message | Filters.update.edited_channel_post
                 )
 
-    def check_update(self, update: Any) -> Optional[Union[bool, Dict[str, Any]]]:
+    def check_update(self, update: object) -> Optional[Union[bool, Dict[str, object]]]:
         """Determines whether an update should be passed to this handlers :attr:`callback`.
 
         Args:
@@ -198,7 +198,7 @@ class MessageHandler(Handler[Update]):
         context: 'CallbackContext',
         update: Update,
         dispatcher: 'Dispatcher',
-        check_result: Optional[Union[bool, Dict[str, Any]]],
+        check_result: Optional[Union[bool, Dict[str, object]]],
     ) -> None:
         if isinstance(check_result, dict):
             context.update(check_result)
diff --git a/telegram/ext/messagequeue.py b/telegram/ext/messagequeue.py
index 9bd65a0cf..2e85a5ab6 100644
--- a/telegram/ext/messagequeue.py
+++ b/telegram/ext/messagequeue.py
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ import functools
 import queue as q
 import threading
 import time
-from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Any, Callable, List, NoReturn
+from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Callable, List, NoReturn
 
 from telegram.utils.promise import Promise
 
@@ -153,7 +153,7 @@ class DelayQueue(threading.Thread):
 
         raise exc
 
-    def __call__(self, func: Callable, *args: Any, **kwargs: Any) -> None:
+    def __call__(self, func: Callable, *args: object, **kwargs: object) -> None:
         """Used to process callbacks in throughput-limiting thread through queue.
 
         Args:
@@ -300,7 +300,7 @@ def queuedmessage(method: Callable) -> Callable:
     """
 
     @functools.wraps(method)
-    def wrapped(self: 'Bot', *args: Any, **kwargs: Any) -> Any:
+    def wrapped(self: 'Bot', *args: object, **kwargs: object) -> object:
         # pylint: disable=W0212
         queued = kwargs.pop(
             'queued', self._is_messages_queued_default  # type: ignore[attr-defined]
diff --git a/telegram/ext/picklepersistence.py b/telegram/ext/picklepersistence.py
index 625de9850..f5d5101b3 100644
--- a/telegram/ext/picklepersistence.py
+++ b/telegram/ext/picklepersistence.py
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ class PicklePersistence(BasePersistence):
         self.user_data: Optional[DefaultDict[int, Dict]] = None
         self.chat_data: Optional[DefaultDict[int, Dict]] = None
         self.bot_data: Optional[Dict] = None
-        self.conversations: Optional[Dict[str, Dict[Tuple, Any]]] = None
+        self.conversations: Optional[Dict[str, Dict[Tuple, object]]] = None
 
     def load_singlefile(self) -> None:
         try:
@@ -138,11 +138,11 @@ class PicklePersistence(BasePersistence):
             pickle.dump(data, file)
 
     @staticmethod
-    def dump_file(filename: str, data: Any) -> None:
+    def dump_file(filename: str, data: object) -> None:
         with open(filename, "wb") as file:
             pickle.dump(data, file)
 
-    def get_user_data(self) -> DefaultDict[int, Dict[Any, Any]]:
+    def get_user_data(self) -> DefaultDict[int, Dict[object, object]]:
         """Returns the user_data from the pickle file if it exists or an empty :obj:`defaultdict`.
 
         Returns:
@@ -162,7 +162,7 @@ class PicklePersistence(BasePersistence):
             self.load_singlefile()
         return deepcopy(self.user_data)  # type: ignore[arg-type]
 
-    def get_chat_data(self) -> DefaultDict[int, Dict[Any, Any]]:
+    def get_chat_data(self) -> DefaultDict[int, Dict[object, object]]:
         """Returns the chat_data from the pickle file if it exists or an empty :obj:`defaultdict`.
 
         Returns:
@@ -182,7 +182,7 @@ class PicklePersistence(BasePersistence):
             self.load_singlefile()
         return deepcopy(self.chat_data)  # type: ignore[arg-type]
 
-    def get_bot_data(self) -> Dict[Any, Any]:
+    def get_bot_data(self) -> Dict[object, object]:
         """Returns the bot_data from the pickle file if it exists or an empty :obj:`dict`.
 
         Returns:
diff --git a/telegram/ext/pollanswerhandler.py b/telegram/ext/pollanswerhandler.py
index c23d5175e..891b64fee 100644
--- a/telegram/ext/pollanswerhandler.py
+++ b/telegram/ext/pollanswerhandler.py
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
 # You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser Public License
 # along with this program.  If not, see [http://www.gnu.org/licenses/].
 """This module contains the PollAnswerHandler class."""
-from typing import Any
+
 
 from telegram import Update
 
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ class PollAnswerHandler(Handler[Update]):
 
     """
 
-    def check_update(self, update: Any) -> bool:
+    def check_update(self, update: object) -> bool:
         """Determines whether an update should be passed to this handlers :attr:`callback`.
 
         Args:
diff --git a/telegram/ext/pollhandler.py b/telegram/ext/pollhandler.py
index 86081e45b..bc0d53600 100644
--- a/telegram/ext/pollhandler.py
+++ b/telegram/ext/pollhandler.py
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
 # You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser Public License
 # along with this program.  If not, see [http://www.gnu.org/licenses/].
 """This module contains the PollHandler classes."""
-from typing import Any
+
 
 from telegram import Update
 
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ class PollHandler(Handler[Update]):
 
     """
 
-    def check_update(self, update: Any) -> bool:
+    def check_update(self, update: object) -> bool:
         """Determines whether an update should be passed to this handlers :attr:`callback`.
 
         Args:
diff --git a/telegram/ext/precheckoutqueryhandler.py b/telegram/ext/precheckoutqueryhandler.py
index 53b8b31f5..0a954e18a 100644
--- a/telegram/ext/precheckoutqueryhandler.py
+++ b/telegram/ext/precheckoutqueryhandler.py
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
 # You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser Public License
 # along with this program.  If not, see [http://www.gnu.org/licenses/].
 """This module contains the PreCheckoutQueryHandler class."""
-from typing import Any
+
 
 from telegram import Update
 
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ class PreCheckoutQueryHandler(Handler[Update]):
 
     """
 
-    def check_update(self, update: Any) -> bool:
+    def check_update(self, update: object) -> bool:
         """Determines whether an update should be passed to this handlers :attr:`callback`.
 
         Args:
diff --git a/telegram/ext/regexhandler.py b/telegram/ext/regexhandler.py
index 8f630b11c..176620d2c 100644
--- a/telegram/ext/regexhandler.py
+++ b/telegram/ext/regexhandler.py
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@
 """This module contains the RegexHandler class."""
 
 import warnings
-from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Any, Callable, Dict, Optional, Pattern, TypeVar, Union
+from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Callable, Dict, Optional, Pattern, TypeVar, Union, Any
 
 from telegram import Update
 from telegram.ext import Filters, MessageHandler
@@ -149,7 +149,7 @@ class RegexHandler(MessageHandler):
         dispatcher: 'Dispatcher',
         update: Update = None,
         check_result: Optional[Union[bool, Dict[str, Any]]] = None,
-    ) -> Dict[str, Any]:
+    ) -> Dict[str, object]:
         optional_args = super().collect_optional_args(dispatcher, update, check_result)
         if isinstance(check_result, dict):
             if self.pass_groups:
diff --git a/telegram/ext/shippingqueryhandler.py b/telegram/ext/shippingqueryhandler.py
index b9b79fab9..855163b44 100644
--- a/telegram/ext/shippingqueryhandler.py
+++ b/telegram/ext/shippingqueryhandler.py
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
 # You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser Public License
 # along with this program.  If not, see [http://www.gnu.org/licenses/].
 """This module contains the ShippingQueryHandler class."""
-from typing import Any
+
 
 from telegram import Update
 from .handler import Handler
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ class ShippingQueryHandler(Handler[Update]):
 
     """
 
-    def check_update(self, update: Any) -> bool:
+    def check_update(self, update: object) -> bool:
         """Determines whether an update should be passed to this handlers :attr:`callback`.
 
         Args:
diff --git a/telegram/ext/stringcommandhandler.py b/telegram/ext/stringcommandhandler.py
index 1d35a6700..cee6e821e 100644
--- a/telegram/ext/stringcommandhandler.py
+++ b/telegram/ext/stringcommandhandler.py
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@
 # along with this program.  If not, see [http://www.gnu.org/licenses/].
 """This module contains the StringCommandHandler class."""
 
-from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Any, Callable, Dict, List, Optional, TypeVar, Union
+from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Callable, Dict, List, Optional, TypeVar, Union
 
 from telegram.utils.helpers import DefaultValue, DEFAULT_FALSE
 
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ class StringCommandHandler(Handler[str]):
         self.command = command
         self.pass_args = pass_args
 
-    def check_update(self, update: Any) -> Optional[List[str]]:
+    def check_update(self, update: object) -> Optional[List[str]]:
         """Determines whether an update should be passed to this handlers :attr:`callback`.
 
         Args:
@@ -121,7 +121,7 @@ class StringCommandHandler(Handler[str]):
         dispatcher: 'Dispatcher',
         update: str = None,
         check_result: Optional[List[str]] = None,
-    ) -> Dict[str, Any]:
+    ) -> Dict[str, object]:
         optional_args = super().collect_optional_args(dispatcher, update, check_result)
         if self.pass_args:
             optional_args['args'] = check_result
diff --git a/telegram/ext/stringregexhandler.py b/telegram/ext/stringregexhandler.py
index 6ca6fbce9..1236656a7 100644
--- a/telegram/ext/stringregexhandler.py
+++ b/telegram/ext/stringregexhandler.py
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@
 """This module contains the StringRegexHandler class."""
 
 import re
-from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Any, Callable, Dict, Match, Optional, Pattern, TypeVar, Union
+from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Callable, Dict, Match, Optional, Pattern, TypeVar, Union
 
 from telegram.utils.helpers import DefaultValue, DEFAULT_FALSE
 
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ class StringRegexHandler(Handler[str]):
         self.pass_groups = pass_groups
         self.pass_groupdict = pass_groupdict
 
-    def check_update(self, update: Any) -> Optional[Match]:
+    def check_update(self, update: object) -> Optional[Match]:
         """Determines whether an update should be passed to this handlers :attr:`callback`.
 
         Args:
@@ -136,7 +136,7 @@ class StringRegexHandler(Handler[str]):
         dispatcher: 'Dispatcher',
         update: str = None,
         check_result: Optional[Match] = None,
-    ) -> Dict[str, Any]:
+    ) -> Dict[str, object]:
         optional_args = super().collect_optional_args(dispatcher, update, check_result)
         if self.pattern:
             if self.pass_groups and check_result:
diff --git a/telegram/ext/typehandler.py b/telegram/ext/typehandler.py
index 80811e856..8ff882cca 100644
--- a/telegram/ext/typehandler.py
+++ b/telegram/ext/typehandler.py
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@
 # along with this program.  If not, see [http://www.gnu.org/licenses/].
 """This module contains the TypeHandler class."""
 
-from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Any, Callable, Type, TypeVar, Union
+from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Callable, Type, TypeVar, Union
 from telegram.utils.helpers import DefaultValue, DEFAULT_FALSE
 
 from .handler import Handler
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ class TypeHandler(Handler[UT]):
         self.type = type
         self.strict = strict
 
-    def check_update(self, update: Any) -> bool:
+    def check_update(self, update: object) -> bool:
         """Determines whether an update should be passed to this handlers :attr:`callback`.
 
         Args:
diff --git a/telegram/ext/updater.py b/telegram/ext/updater.py
index cbce74959..6ca3a20f5 100644
--- a/telegram/ext/updater.py
+++ b/telegram/ext/updater.py
@@ -219,7 +219,7 @@ class Updater:
         self.__lock = Lock()
         self.__threads: List[Thread] = []
 
-    def _init_thread(self, target: Callable, name: str, *args: Any, **kwargs: Any) -> None:
+    def _init_thread(self, target: Callable, name: str, *args: object, **kwargs: object) -> None:
         thr = Thread(
             target=self._thread_wrapper,
             name=f"Bot:{self.bot.id}:{name}",
@@ -229,7 +229,7 @@ class Updater:
         thr.start()
         self.__threads.append(thr)
 
-    def _thread_wrapper(self, target: Callable, *args: Any, **kwargs: Any) -> None:
+    def _thread_wrapper(self, target: Callable, *args: object, **kwargs: object) -> None:
         thr_name = current_thread().name
         self.logger.debug('%s - started', thr_name)
         try:
diff --git a/telegram/files/videonote.py b/telegram/files/videonote.py
index 819713709..d49dd71df 100644
--- a/telegram/files/videonote.py
+++ b/telegram/files/videonote.py
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@
 # along with this program.  If not, see [http://www.gnu.org/licenses/].
 """This module contains an object that represents a Telegram VideoNote."""
 
-from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Any, Optional
+from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Optional, Any
 
 from telegram import PhotoSize, TelegramObject
 from telegram.utils.types import JSONDict
diff --git a/telegram/inline/inlinekeyboardmarkup.py b/telegram/inline/inlinekeyboardmarkup.py
index b7c94adeb..6af41a08f 100644
--- a/telegram/inline/inlinekeyboardmarkup.py
+++ b/telegram/inline/inlinekeyboardmarkup.py
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ class InlineKeyboardMarkup(ReplyMarkup):
         return cls(keyboard)
 
     @classmethod
-    def from_button(cls, button: InlineKeyboardButton, **kwargs: Any) -> 'InlineKeyboardMarkup':
+    def from_button(cls, button: InlineKeyboardButton, **kwargs: object) -> 'InlineKeyboardMarkup':
         """Shortcut for::
 
             InlineKeyboardMarkup([[button]], **kwargs)
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ class InlineKeyboardMarkup(ReplyMarkup):
 
     @classmethod
     def from_row(
-        cls, button_row: List[InlineKeyboardButton], **kwargs: Any
+        cls, button_row: List[InlineKeyboardButton], **kwargs: object
     ) -> 'InlineKeyboardMarkup':
         """Shortcut for::
 
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@ class InlineKeyboardMarkup(ReplyMarkup):
 
     @classmethod
     def from_column(
-        cls, button_column: List[InlineKeyboardButton], **kwargs: Any
+        cls, button_column: List[InlineKeyboardButton], **kwargs: object
     ) -> 'InlineKeyboardMarkup':
         """Shortcut for::
 
diff --git a/telegram/replykeyboardmarkup.py b/telegram/replykeyboardmarkup.py
index 4f7a52eaf..1368fed09 100644
--- a/telegram/replykeyboardmarkup.py
+++ b/telegram/replykeyboardmarkup.py
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ class ReplyKeyboardMarkup(ReplyMarkup):
         resize_keyboard: bool = False,
         one_time_keyboard: bool = False,
         selective: bool = False,
-        **kwargs: Any,
+        **kwargs: object,
     ) -> 'ReplyKeyboardMarkup':
         """Shortcut for::
 
@@ -155,7 +155,7 @@ class ReplyKeyboardMarkup(ReplyMarkup):
         resize_keyboard: bool = False,
         one_time_keyboard: bool = False,
         selective: bool = False,
-        **kwargs: Any,
+        **kwargs: object,
     ) -> 'ReplyKeyboardMarkup':
         """Shortcut for::
 
@@ -201,7 +201,7 @@ class ReplyKeyboardMarkup(ReplyMarkup):
         resize_keyboard: bool = False,
         one_time_keyboard: bool = False,
         selective: bool = False,
-        **kwargs: Any,
+        **kwargs: object,
     ) -> 'ReplyKeyboardMarkup':
         """Shortcut for::
 
diff --git a/telegram/utils/deprecate.py b/telegram/utils/deprecate.py
index e34a490f6..cf1d55de8 100644
--- a/telegram/utils/deprecate.py
+++ b/telegram/utils/deprecate.py
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@
 """This module facilitates the deprecation of functions."""
 
 import warnings
-from typing import Any, Callable, TypeVar
+from typing import Callable, TypeVar
 
 RT = TypeVar('RT')
 
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ def warn_deprecate_obj(old: str, new: str, stacklevel: int = 3) -> None:
 def deprecate(func: Callable[..., RT], old: str, new: str) -> Callable[..., RT]:
     """Warn users invoking old to switch to the new function."""
 
-    def wrapped(*args: Any, **kwargs: Any) -> RT:
+    def wrapped(*args: object, **kwargs: object) -> RT:
         warn_deprecate_obj(old, new)
         return func(*args, **kwargs)
 
diff --git a/telegram/utils/helpers.py b/telegram/utils/helpers.py
index 522a99404..fa0dc59ad 100644
--- a/telegram/utils/helpers.py
+++ b/telegram/utils/helpers.py
@@ -185,7 +185,7 @@ def to_float_timestamp(
     Converts a given time object to a float POSIX timestamp.
     Used to convert different time specifications to a common format. The time object
     can be relative (i.e. indicate a time increment, or a time of day) or absolute.
-    Any objects from the :class:`datetime` module that are timezone-naive will be assumed
+    object objects from the :class:`datetime` module that are timezone-naive will be assumed
     to be in UTC, if ``bot`` is not passed or ``bot.defaults`` is :obj:`None`.
 
     Args:
@@ -412,7 +412,7 @@ def create_deep_linked_url(bot_username: str, payload: str = None, group: bool =
     return f'{base_url}?{key}={payload}'
 
 
-def encode_conversations_to_json(conversations: Dict[str, Dict[Tuple, Any]]) -> str:
+def encode_conversations_to_json(conversations: Dict[str, Dict[Tuple, object]]) -> str:
     """Helper method to encode a conversations dict (that uses tuples as keys) to a
     JSON-serializable way. Use :attr:`_decode_conversations_from_json` to decode.
 
@@ -430,7 +430,7 @@ def encode_conversations_to_json(conversations: Dict[str, Dict[Tuple, Any]]) ->
     return json.dumps(tmp)
 
 
-def decode_conversations_from_json(json_string: str) -> Dict[str, Dict[Tuple, Any]]:
+def decode_conversations_from_json(json_string: str) -> Dict[str, Dict[Tuple, object]]:
     """Helper method to decode a conversations dict (that uses tuples as keys) from a
     JSON-string created with :attr:`_encode_conversations_to_json`.
 
@@ -441,7 +441,7 @@ def decode_conversations_from_json(json_string: str) -> Dict[str, Dict[Tuple, An
         :obj:`dict`: The conversations dict after decoding
     """
     tmp = json.loads(json_string)
-    conversations: Dict[str, Dict[Tuple, Any]] = {}
+    conversations: Dict[str, Dict[Tuple, object]] = {}
     for handler, states in tmp.items():
         conversations[handler] = {}
         for key, state in states.items():
@@ -449,7 +449,7 @@ def decode_conversations_from_json(json_string: str) -> Dict[str, Dict[Tuple, An
     return conversations
 
 
-def decode_user_chat_data_from_json(data: str) -> DefaultDict[int, Dict[Any, Any]]:
+def decode_user_chat_data_from_json(data: str) -> DefaultDict[int, Dict[object, object]]:
     """Helper method to decode chat or user data (that uses ints as keys) from a
     JSON-string.
 
@@ -460,7 +460,7 @@ def decode_user_chat_data_from_json(data: str) -> DefaultDict[int, Dict[Any, Any
         :obj:`dict`: The user/chat_data defaultdict after decoding
     """
 
-    tmp: DefaultDict[int, Dict[Any, Any]] = defaultdict(dict)
+    tmp: DefaultDict[int, Dict[object, object]] = defaultdict(dict)
     decoded_data = json.loads(data)
     for user, user_data in decoded_data.items():
         user = int(user)
@@ -519,7 +519,7 @@ class DefaultValue:
 
     """
 
-    def __init__(self, value: Any = None):
+    def __init__(self, value: object = None):
         self.value = value
 
     def __bool__(self) -> bool:
diff --git a/telegram/utils/promise.py b/telegram/utils/promise.py
index 57167b2c8..60442686a 100644
--- a/telegram/utils/promise.py
+++ b/telegram/utils/promise.py
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@
 
 import logging
 from threading import Event
-from typing import Callable, List, Optional, Tuple, TypeVar, Union, Any
+from typing import Callable, List, Optional, Tuple, TypeVar, Union
 
 from telegram.utils.types import JSONDict
 
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ class Promise:
         pooled_function: Callable[..., RT],
         args: Union[List, Tuple],
         kwargs: JSONDict,
-        update: Any = None,
+        update: object = None,
         error_handling: bool = True,
     ):
         self.pooled_function = pooled_function
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ class Promise:
             expires.
 
         Raises:
-            Any exception raised by :attr:`pooled_function`.
+            object exception raised by :attr:`pooled_function`.
         """
         self.done.wait(timeout=timeout)
         if self._exception is not None:
diff --git a/telegram/utils/request.py b/telegram/utils/request.py
index 16622bccf..10f4c95db 100644
--- a/telegram/utils/request.py
+++ b/telegram/utils/request.py
@@ -226,7 +226,7 @@ class Request:
 
         return data['result']
 
-    def _request_wrapper(self, *args: Any, **kwargs: Any) -> bytes:
+    def _request_wrapper(self, *args: object, **kwargs: Any) -> bytes:
         """Wraps urllib3 request for handling known exceptions.
 
         Args:
diff --git a/telegram/utils/webhookhandler.py b/telegram/utils/webhookhandler.py
index 20e48c892..3c29317e6 100644
--- a/telegram/utils/webhookhandler.py
+++ b/telegram/utils/webhookhandler.py
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ class WebhookServer:
                 return
             self.loop.add_callback(self.loop.stop)  # type: ignore
 
-    def handle_error(self, request: Any, client_address: str) -> None:  # pylint: disable=W0613
+    def handle_error(self, request: object, client_address: str) -> None:  # pylint: disable=W0613
         """Handle an error gracefully."""
         self.logger.debug(
             'Exception happened during processing of request from %s',
diff --git a/tests/conftest.py b/tests/conftest.py
index 28414d53a..b9b9955c0 100644
--- a/tests/conftest.py
+++ b/tests/conftest.py
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ from collections import defaultdict
 from queue import Queue
 from threading import Thread, Event
 from time import sleep
-from typing import Callable, List, Dict, Any
+from typing import Callable, List, Dict
 
 import pytest
 import pytz
@@ -407,7 +407,7 @@ def check_shortcut_signature(
 
 
 def check_shortcut_call(
-    kwargs: Dict[str, Any],
+    kwargs: Dict[str, object],
     bot_method: Callable,
 ) -> bool:
     """