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

But despite the evident craving for stories about L-O-V-E, literary fiction has struggled to master the art of the crossover.

— Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 13 Aug. 2026
For kiddos and adults, fruit serves as a healthy alternative to candy, delivering vitamins, fiber, and hydration while satisfying sweet cravings.

— Sierra Leone Starks, Parents, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of craving

Noun

However, holding pee for a long period of time and ignoring the urge to go might increase the risk of certain problems, such as urinary tract infections.

— Amber J. Tresca, Verywell Health, 14 Aug. 2026
Our research team found that, in abstaining mice, this urge to drink is preceded by changes in the activity of a particular brain region, pointing to potential new screening opportunities to identify and help those most vulnerable to relapse.

— Marie Doyle, The Conversation, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of urge

Adjective

Even still, the allure of success kept the industry flush with young, ambitious actors, directors and creatives.

— Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 22 Aug. 2026
The Light Flip is an ambitious device, addressing the issues with vintage flip phones while adopting modern technology without abandoning the minimal tech counterculture movement.

— Anthony Karcz, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of ambitious

Noun

Having a comfy and accommodating chair can reduce the desire to get up give you more time to get more work done.

— BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 19 Aug. 2026
Trump’s desire, which is to coat the granite facade with white paint, has been met with significant pushback from historians who say that covering the historic building’s granite exterior with paint could trap moisture and damage the stone.

— News Desk, Artforum, 19 Aug. 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

What the estate has built in the 15 years since his death is a testament to the thirst for life that the artist had while on this earth.

— Nate Freeman, Vanity Fair, 21 Aug. 2026
After marking his 61st birthday with a vintage video from his 3rd birthday back in 1966, Stamos returned to thirst-trapping for his 62nd.

— Kathleen Perricone, Entertainment Weekly, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of thirst

Adjective

The victim’s mother, 60-year-old Adra Pegues, said the killer recently went on a first date with her daughter and then became obsessed with Davis, who wasn’t interested in a second date.

— Kerry Burke, New York Daily News, 20 Aug. 2026
But while ripoffs and dodgy reboots are common in horror, some of the weirdest unauthorized sequels are the result of an obsessed fan self-financing a tribute to their favorite movie.

— Katie Rife, IndieWire, 11 Aug. 2026