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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

hankering

2 of 2

adjective

as in longing

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

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

Prior to preproduction on Godzilla x Kong, Wingard, after a day of writing Face/Off 2 at Barrett’s place, had a hankering for some tacos. — Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 8 Sep. 2026 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for hankering

Noun

Although The Love Witch played around 100 theaters upon its 2016 debut, will audiences’ cravings for something different be enough to secure a wide release for The Face of Horror a decade later?

— Glenn Garner, Deadline, 21 Sep. 2026
Needing coffee immediately upon waking and experiencing afternoon fatigue, irritability, anxiety, difficulty concentrating, sleep disturbances, and sugar cravings.

— Marie Bladt, Vogue, 20 Sep. 2026

Definition of craving

Noun

Match the setup to the actual disruption, whether that’s snoring, temperature clash, mismatched schedules or none of the above, and ignore the urge to simply go with what’s trendy this month.

— Lauren Schuster, Sacbee.com, 18 Sep. 2026
All three films also emphasize the physical toll of the urge to smash, snag, and steal.

— Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of urge

Adjective

Takaichi introduces tax cut and ambitious spending Takaichi, as part of her measures to combat rising prices, has pushed a two-year cut in the consumption tax to 1% from the current 8% and payouts to households.

— Mari Yamaguchi, Los Angeles Times, 17 Sep. 2026
Takaichi also kept Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama, her longtime confidant who has been implementing her ambitious spending policy, and Economy and Fiscal Policy Minister Minoru Kiuchi.

— ABC News, ABC News, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of ambitious

Noun

Ellen displays intimacy with Lara in front of Ruby; Lara withholds and then offers attention; Ruby watches with envy, desire, and the alertness of a guest who cannot tell whether she is being welcomed or appraised.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 24 Sep. 2026
Produced by Sergio Adrià’s Espurna Films, with Sandra Hermida on board as co-producer, the film centers on 17-year-old Clara, whose desire to be seen and loved is complicated by a growing impulse to escape the expectations surrounding her.

— Callum McLennan, Variety, 23 Sep. 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

Advanced signs include anxiety, confusion, agitation, hallucinations, extreme thirst paired with panic at the sight of fluids, heavy saliva and aggressive thrashing or biting.

— The Sacramento Bee staff, Sacbee.com, 18 Sep. 2026
Throughout the song, water and thirst become metaphors for overwhelming desire, with the singers acknowledging that their connection is powerful enough to extinguish — or ignite — the fire between them.

— Isabela Raygoza, Billboard, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of thirst

Adjective

There are many ways to become obsessed with life’s frame rate, with the varying speed of an action and the way that time can be sliced or spun in the presentation.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 23 Sep. 2026
As the war wound down, Olivier was becoming more obsessed with directing, often counting on Leigh as his cultured, measured adviser.

— Hadley Hall Meares, Vanity Fair, 21 Sep. 2026