hunger

noun

ˈhəŋ-gər How to pronounce hunger (audio)
Definition of hungernext
1
as in appetite
a need or desire for food no degree of hunger would induce me to eat octopus

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in thirst
a strong wish for something a lonely girl with a desperate hunger for love

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in enthusiasm
urgent desire or interest reads everything he can find on airplanes with a seemingly insatiable hunger

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 hunger My enthusiasm for caving gave way, in time, to a broader hunger for the beauty and freedom of the outdoors, and the excitement of exploring the wilds far from the nearest road. — Literary Hub, 18 Aug. 2026 Eating earlier than noon could lead to hunger before dinner, while waiting too long to eat lunch may increase fatigue or irritability. — Trista Chan, HEALTH, 17 Aug. 2026 Storage shelves, recycling, boxes of holiday decor, old rags, birdseed, and garden and yard tools stored in the garage provide nooks and crannies where mice can satisfy their hunger, hide, and stay warm. — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 17 Aug. 2026 The country, which has been under the complete control of the Taliban, has also experienced deadly strikes from Pakistan, earthquakes and widespread hunger and malnutrition. — Ximena Bustillo, NPR, 15 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for hunger
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hunger
  1. appetite
  2. thirst
  3. enthusiasm
  4. starvation
  5. craving
  6. stomach
  7. desire
  8. longing
Noun
  • Kahn said the life settlement companies kept seeking more growth to sate Wall Street's appetite.
    — Vito Emanuel, NPR, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Tehran has also discovered that the United States has no appetite for sending ground troops into its territory.
    — Nate Swanson, Foreign Affairs, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of appetite
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
Noun
  • Wang’s remarks underscore the gap between investor enthusiasm for humanoid robots and their current commercial capabilities.
    — Anniek Bao,Jenni Reid,Jenny Lee, CNBC, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Alice presents two ideas, one delivered without any enthusiasm, the other dropped as a joke.
    — Keith Phipps, Vulture, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of enthusiasm
Noun
  • The Khmer Rouge group that ruled Cambodia from 1975 to 1979 was accused of genocide for causing the deaths of so many countrymen from executions, starvation and lack of medical care due to its radical policies.
    — Sopheng Cheang, Los Angeles Times, 17 Aug. 2026
  • The Khmer Rouge group that ruled Cambodia from 1975–79 was accused of genocide for causing the deaths of so many of their countrymen from executions, starvation, and lack of medical care due to its radical policies.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of starvation
Noun
  • When a croissant, a cupcake or a cookie craving is calling, a stop at one of Charlotte’s best bakeries is in order.
    — Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 24 Aug. 2026
  • The Concours Club has given him a Miami address for his craving, along with storage, service, coaching, and a place to keep his own racing history in motion.
    — Lilian Raji, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of craving
Noun
  • This includes the skeletal muscles that Rocky uses to sprint and box, the muscles that allow your heart to beat, the muscles that squeeze food through your stomach and intestines, and the muscles that open up your airways to breathe.
    — Linda M. Boland, The Conversation, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Your friend revealed something to you that turns your stomach.
    — Harriette Cole, Mercury News, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of stomach
Noun
  • All the climate stories in this show are part of the desire to be authentic, but also speak to what our audiences are living through.
    — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Younger consumers' enthusiasm for fall, a desire to plan ahead and retailers' efforts to extend seasonal spending may all be helping drive the shift.
    — Teresa Mull, FOXNews.com, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of desire
Noun
  • Personal longings and professional obligations may be at odds today.
    — USA TODAY, USA Today, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Like with Channel Orange, Ocean is narrating life from 10,000 feet up, able to communicate pain and lust and longing with a kind of precision that, if nothing else, should prove how singular the human spirit truly is.
    — Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of longing

Phrases Containing hunger

Browse Nearby Words

hung back
hunger
hungered (for)
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Cite this Entry

“Hunger.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hunger. Accessed 28 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on hunger

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about hunger

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