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 sight of Matt Crooks and Nobel Mendy teaming up on Bruno Fernandes just after the half-hour mark epitomised their hunger and desire. — Stuart James, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026 The Arakan Army now controls most of Rakhine and stands accused of its own abuses against Rohingya civilians, while a junta blockade has halted food, medicine and aid, driving hunger across the territory. — Lorcan Lovett, NPR, 25 Aug. 2026 By formally uniting the issues of hunger and health, however, Mamdani can tap into funding already earmarked for Food as Medicine initiatives, helping address both the financial and health challenges facing the NYCG plan. — Marian Flaxman, New York Daily News, 23 Aug. 2026 Sleep can also deteriorate, disrupting hormones that help regulate hunger. — Nicole Bennett, AJC.com, 21 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
  • More than just thirst quenchers, functional beverages are engineered to deliver a wellness punch with vitamins and minerals, antioxidants, electrolytes, probiotics and enzymes for gut health and adaptogens for mood support.
    — Pamela N. Danziger, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
  • 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
Definition of thirst
Noun
  • Nvidia posted blockbuster second-quarter results, and the enthusiasm is spilling over into other parts of the semiconductor sector.
    — Fred Imbert, CNBC, 27 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 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
  • Salmonella infection can cause diarrhea, fever, stomach cramps, nausea and vomiting, according to the CDC.
    — Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026
  • How do your feelings about your stomach affect your daily life?
    — Margaret Cirino, NPR, 28 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
  • Over time, his desire to pursue his life’s work became inseparable from a larger longing for personal freedom.
    — Alex Ritman, Variety, 28 Aug. 2026
  • This paradox—a longing for beauty to be distributed equally, even though it cannot be diluted for ease of distribution, and might even require rarity—is why the period continues to fascinate me.
    — Emily Watlington, ARTnews.com, 24 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 1 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on hunger

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about hunger

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