1
as in hungry
feeling a desire or need for food
after a full day of skiing, I was feeling absolutely famished
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in impoverished
lacking money or material possessions
a group of local citizens working to ease the plight of the famished families in their community
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of famished
The restaurant at Tranquility Base was closed, however, so the by-then famished band found a late-night diner down the road.
—
Gary Graff, Billboard, 15 Aug. 2024
None of this perturbed Schwarzenegger, who was a famously quick study, almost lupine in his famished eagerness to learn, trading weight-lifting tips with his distinguished co-star James Earl Jones in return for actorly advice.
—Anthony Lane, The New Yorker, 15 July 2024
The famished road warriors drove down the cold mountain highway and across the bridge into the town.
—J. D. Biersdorfer, New York Times, 8 July 2024
On the outskirts of Wollongong, waking at dawn from its 20-hour nap, a famished, branch-hugging koala stretched its claw skyward for a fat, juicy green eucalyptus leaf.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 14 Jan. 2024
See All Example Sentences for famished
Gary Graff, Billboard, 15 Aug. 2024
None of this perturbed Schwarzenegger, who was a famously quick study, almost lupine in his famished eagerness to learn, trading weight-lifting tips with his distinguished co-star James Earl Jones in return for actorly advice.
—Anthony Lane, The New Yorker, 15 July 2024
The famished road warriors drove down the cold mountain highway and across the bridge into the town.
—J. D. Biersdorfer, New York Times, 8 July 2024
On the outskirts of Wollongong, waking at dawn from its 20-hour nap, a famished, branch-hugging koala stretched its claw skyward for a fat, juicy green eucalyptus leaf.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 14 Jan. 2024
See All Example Sentences for famished
Recent Examples of Synonyms for famished
Adjective
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Europe has been hungry for a homegrown alternative to Starlink, which dominates the sector — the service has been vital to Ukrainian troops in the war against Russia, and fears of a possible shutdown accelerated Europe’s space ambitions.—
J.D. Capelouto,
semafor.com,
26 Oct. 2025
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But, locally, even a temporary closure of CalFresh will push a flood of hungry people toward free food providers, a countywide network of roughly 600 food pantries and food banks.—
Andre Mouchard,
Oc Register,
26 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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The film, which world premiered in the Berlinale’s Perspectives sidebar, follows an impoverished but determined family put to test when the father, who is suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, is accused of murder.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
23 Oct. 2025
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Sanctions have crippled the government’s primary source of revenue, oil exports, limiting the state’s ability to provide for millions of impoverished Iranians through social safety nets.—
Leila Gharagozlou,
CNN Money,
19 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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There’s another element of the current concern regarding due process that relates to the fate of poor Cinna.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
23 Oct. 2025
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McDaniel’s debut album Lost Ones delves into his own story of growing up in a poor community in Kentucky, and dealing with mental health struggles, both personally and within his family — as well as McDaniel’s story of being saved during a past suicide attempt years ago.—
Jessica Nicholson,
Billboard,
23 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Margaret Qualley, as the former A-lister's younger self, also goes for broke in a film that's a disturbing, hilarious and jaw-dropping hoot.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
21 Oct. 2025
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Businesses go broke, financial institutions fail and economic activity shrivels.—
Edward Lotterman,
Twin Cities,
19 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Famished.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/famished. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
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