HANKERING Synonyms: 149 Similar and Opposite Words

hankering 1 of 2

noun

as in craving

a strong wish for something I've had a hankering for pizza with anchovies all afternoon

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hankering

2 of 2

adjective

as in longing

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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of hankering

Noun

Orange dream freeze at Your 3rd Spot A little sweet and a little sassy, the orange dream freeze satisfies a hankering for a cocktail and a dessert. — Angela Hansberger, AJC.com, 21 June 2026 Though the bolt had an apparent hankering for coconuts and avoided a direct hit through my scalp, the current traveled through the earth, zapped my feet, and sent me jumping into the air and, ultimately, to the emergency room. — Joey Skladany, Travel + Leisure, 8 June 2026 If your hankering is for Chinese, then pop into bustling Taipei Express for a cheap and cheerful Sa Cha Chicken lunch combo. — Charlotte Observer, 16 Mar. 2026 This piece combines a supporting character palette with a leading lady frame to make something perfect for those who have a hankering to whitewash but know better. — Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 5 Feb. 2026 That’s the bit missing these days, and that’s why there’s a hankering for what some people call the West Ham Way. — Michael Walker, New York Times, 15 Jan. 2026 And for the kids who get a hankering to try the sport/lifestyle, consider a learn-to camp. — Moira McCarthy, Boston Herald, 31 Dec. 2025 And if fig is the focus but a cake isn’t calling your name, try one of these fresh and flavorful fig recipes to satisfy any sudden hankering. — Joey Skladany, Southern Living, 23 Dec. 2025 For those with a hankering for farm-to-table cuisine, Handle’s menu of fresh, simple dishes will satiate the craving. — Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 10 Dec. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for hankering

Noun

Irritability and low energy and a knife-sharp craving for isolation.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 20 July 2026
Barnes & Noble is back from the dead; so is the indie bookstore, buoyed by a post-pandemic craving for in-person events and non-algorithmic recommendations.

— Sophia Nguyen, The Atlantic, 18 July 2026

Definition of craving

Adjective

British producers are increasingly being asked to mount ambitious pics on compressed budgets, assemble public and private financing and demonstrate audience appetite earlier in the development cycle.

— Callum McLennan, Variety, 24 July 2026
SpaceX is planning the most ambitious refueling demonstration in history with its Starship rocket.

— Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 24 July 2026

Definition of ambitious

Noun

For years, the Royals have searched for a quality outfielder, and that desire remains.

— Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 23 July 2026
Villa’s desire to address this position has grown in prominence over the summer, with Jadon Sancho’s loan ending, Evann Guessand and Leon Bailey available to leave and Villa having the money to spend from Rogers’ sale.

— Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 22 July 2026

Definition of desire

Adjective

Starring Elordi and Barry Keoghan, Fennell’s dark comedy about class resentment and covetous destruction was sold on the promise of erotic excess.

— Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 9 Feb. 2026
For most players, that amount of storage is realistically enough for all but the most covetous data hoarders.

— Matt Kamen, Wired News, 3 Aug. 2025

Definition of covetous

Noun

Vuskovic’s thirst to improve is accompanied by a temperament to deal with setbacks, indicating a maturity beyond his years.

— Andy Naylor, New York Times, 25 July 2026
Garner’s original no-ice, pint-glass version is perfect for an anytime thirst quencher.

— Maggie Meyer Glisan, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 July 2026

Definition of thirst

Adjective

West In the West, five states couldn’t be more obsessed with rocky road—a blend of chocolate, marshmallows, and nuts.

— Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 July 2026
In the film, Scott’s Tom Kennedy long ago cut ties with his father Pete Willis (De Niro), mostly because the former cop was way too obsessed with his work.

— Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 14 July 2026