as in craving
a strong wish for something
I've had a hankering for pizza with anchovies all afternoon
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in longing
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Recent Examples of hankering
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
For them, socialism has meant only a hankering for state tyranny and brazen assaults on property rights that, together, threaten the beliefs every patriotic citizen holds dear.
—Literary Hub, 5 Nov. 2025
Anyone who doesn’t hold the same nostalgic hankering for veteran actresses holding court with one-woman shows might not be blamed for opting out.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 2 Nov. 2025
Noun
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
For them, socialism has meant only a hankering for state tyranny and brazen assaults on property rights that, together, threaten the beliefs every patriotic citizen holds dear.
—Literary Hub, 5 Nov. 2025
Anyone who doesn’t hold the same nostalgic hankering for veteran actresses holding court with one-woman shows might not be blamed for opting out.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 2 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hankering
Noun
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Hero Diner slings fluffy brioche breakfast sandwiches , doughnuts, and kolaches at multiple locations and is open into the late afternoon for quality burgers and midday cravings.—
Bob Carlton,
Southern Living,
16 Mar. 2026
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From chocolate walnut sea salt cookies to an assortment of seasonal cheesecakes and a rainbow of French macarons, your sweet cravings are guaranteed to be satisfied.—
Morgan Rizzo,
Travel + Leisure,
16 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Werther, in his self-delusion, embodies another Goethean type, the longing man—ordinary, but convinced of the extraordinariness of his feelings.—
Merve Emre,
New Yorker,
1 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
Even as the industry leans into horror at the box office and in the press, its upper echelon shows an equally strong urge to use the genre’s intensity as an excuse to look away from the nightmares that most need illuminating.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
17 Mar. 2026
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Burman's Wing Sauces Warming weather rises in tandem with our urge to get out to the grill.—
Abigail Wilt,
Southern Living,
16 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Old Town Pizza, long associated with Roseville’s bar district and more traditional offerings, is moving into the city’s civic core — directly across from City Hall and Vernon Street Town Square — with a larger, more ambitious concept.—
Nicole Buss,
Sacbee.com,
21 Mar. 2026
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The exhibition features an assortment of each organization’s top prospects, and in this year’s installment, the Rangers showcased their latest ambitious venture.—
Shawn McFarland,
Dallas Morning News,
20 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Relegation, combined with Lerner’s desire to get the club off his hands, led to a redundancy programme being set up to reduce the workforce by around a third.—
Stuart James,
New York Times,
21 Mar. 2026
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But partners may simply put their best foot forward at first, experts said, and the extent of power or control someone desires can grow over time.—
Kristen Rogers,
CNN Money,
21 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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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
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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
Noun
-
To quench your thirst, sip water or plain fizzy water.—
Cory Martin,
Verywell Health,
16 Mar. 2026
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People died in front of him, of thirst and starvation.—
Nick Miller,
New York Times,
13 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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There's a reason why everyone is so obsessed with cottage cheese and Greek yogurt these days.—
Kirsten Nunez,
Martha Stewart,
15 Mar. 2026
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When Jersey Shore debuted on MTV in 2009, DiCaprio wasn't the only viewer who became obsessed.—
Shania Russell,
Entertainment Weekly,
11 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hankering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hankering. Accessed 22 Mar. 2026.
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