hunger 1 of 2

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

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

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hunger (for)

2 of 2

verb

as in to crave
to have an earnest wish to own or enjoy voters hungering for honest and upright leadership

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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
Noun
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
  • Pritzker can do nothing about much of the electorate’s seemingly insatiable thirst for silliness.
    — Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2026
  • That can be useful for eating disorders because people often disconnect from feelings such as hunger, thirst, fatigue and cold.
    — Alexandra Pattillo, Scientific American, 5 Aug. 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
  • Most younger people haven’t been taught about the horrors of communism, such as the deliberate starvation of millions of Ukrainian farmers and their families in the early 1930s.
    — Steve Forbes, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 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
  • The recalls come after consumers who ate the berries reported symptoms including stomach cramps, diarrhea, fever, nausea and/or vomiting.
    — Cindy Krischer Goodman, Sun Sentinel, 7 Aug. 2026
  • DreamCloud, our pick for stomach sleepers and hybrid mattresses, is offering up to 60% off mattresses and 66% off bundles for its early Labor Day sale.
    — Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 7 Aug. 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
  • Humans have speculated about eternal life since ancient times, Gershwin said, and the longing is close to universal.
    — Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 6 Aug. 2026
  • King, the urban refugee recalls running carefree in the woods long ago and claims such memories express a universal canine longing.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 5 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 11 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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