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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 The World Food Programme has estimated that disruption linked to the vital waterway could push 45 million more people into hunger. — Melissa Hancock, Fortune, 4 Aug. 2026 And feed, because, in the father's estimate, 99% of the problems his children brought him were hunger in disguise. — Laurel Donnellan, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026 Millions have been forced from their homes and even more are facing crisis levels of hunger. — Adam Harris, The Atlantic, 3 Aug. 2026 Interscope signed Primus just as widespread hunger for weird, adrenalized, and mutable music kicked into high gear, and Sailing went gold. — Sasha Geffen, Pitchfork, 2 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
  • The Pentagon’s appetite for startups and emerging tech is growing, and investors are pouncing.
    — Danielle Chemtob, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Symptoms of a salmonella infection may include watery diarrhea, stomach cramps, headache, nausea, vomiting, and a loss of appetite, according to the CDC.
    — Youri Benadjaoud, ABC News, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of appetite
Noun
  • Staying hydrated is especially important since GLP-1 medications can reduce thirst for some people, and travel itself — especially flying, hot weather, or long sightseeing days — may already increase the risk of dehydration.
    — Judy Koutsky, Forbes.com, 26 July 2026
  • 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
Definition of thirst
Noun
  • Every boardroom has an AI agenda, yet most services companies are still struggling to convert enthusiasm into predictable, scalable revenue.
    — Girish Joshi, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Welcome to Berkeley, where the vibes are immaculate, the views are world-class, and football enthusiasm has traditionally gone to die.
    — Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of enthusiasm
Noun
  • Does the system keep fee-for-service, and if so, what stops the overutilization and the starvation of primary care?
    — Sachin H. Jain, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026
  • Their starvation reached new heights, and the men ultimately broke their promise to Odysseus and killed one of Apollo’s cattle.
    — Tanya Fedak, Variety, 18 July 2026
Definition of starvation
Noun
  • But to your brain, romance may look less like affection and more like craving, stress, and reward.
    — Big Think, Big Think, 2 Aug. 2026
  • Low energy, fatigue, dizziness, lightheadedness, headaches, fainting, brittle or thin nails, hair loss, cravings to chew ice and restless legs syndrome are a few signs, according to Thomas.
    — Amy McGorry, FOXNews.com, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of craving
Noun
  • For a nickel, Minnesotans could get a candy bar packed with peanuts that would both satiate a sweet tooth and fill an empty stomach.
    — Frankie McLister, CBS News, 31 July 2026
  • Today, cases of cyclosporiasis, a stomach-churning parasitic infection known for causing explosive diarrhea, have now reached 45 states.
    — Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy, USA Today, 30 July 2026
Definition of stomach
Noun
  • Rachel Ionata, a research and development manager at the center, said the effort is driven by a desire to preserve the environment for future generations.
    — Joan Murray, CBS News, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Additionally, several council members also spoke of the development as part of the eastern gateway to the city, indicating their desire to think big about what the site could be.
    — Molly Morrow, Chicago Tribune, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of desire
Noun
  • At first glance, the Irwin Pizza Hut’s preservation of its 1990s aesthetic seems like a simple case of promoting a nostalgic longing for the past.
    — Jeff Galak, The Conversation, 31 July 2026
  • This is, at times, a wrenching novel, strewn with broken bodies, but its atrocities never overwhelm its faith in creaturely communion, and in grief and longing that clarify, rather than obscure, one’s desires and selfhood.
    — Rachel Vorona Cote, The Atlantic, 30 July 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 8 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on hunger

Nglish: Translation of hunger for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about hunger

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