hungry

adjective

ˈhəŋ-grē How to pronounce hungry (audio)
Definition of hungrynext
1
as in starving
feeling a desire or need for food John was still hungry after eating only a muffin for breakfast

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in excited
showing urgent desire or interest hungry for the latest news

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 hungry When a disaster strikes or a family is hungry, the need is immediate. — Catherine Lacour, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026 But the scene-stealer is Froseth’s hungry-eyed striver, a comic sexpot with her own Marilyn Monroe-esque daddy issues. — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 23 July 2026 Policymakers and business leaders have long warned that Africa’s power shortfall in particular, if left unaddressed, would starve energy-hungry data centers of the electricity needed to digitize economies. — Alexis Akwagyiram, semafor.com, 22 July 2026 For the first time, the continent has overtaken Asia as the region with the largest number of hungry people, and nearly 60% of the world’s chronically undernourished people could live there by 2030. — ABC News, 21 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for hungry
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hungry
  1. excited
  2. enthusiastic
  3. avid
  4. eager
  5. anxious
  6. thirsty
Adjective
  • Redelinghuys said Umzi’s executive Chef Mensah Thompson is excited to bring South African cuisine and menu items inspired from other African countries.
    — Fousia Abdullahi, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 July 2026
  • An excited crowd cheered and waved homemade signs supporting Pancake.
    — Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 23 July 2026
Definition of excited
Adjective
  • Leaders must cultivate a learning culture, addressing concerns and leveraging enthusiastic early adopters to introduce visible, low-risk AI applications.
    — Joe McKendrick, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026
  • As for the wisdom of shepherding the Sun out of Connecticut, the traditionally enthusiastic market for women’s basketball, to Houston, where a championship franchise failed to take hold in the league’s early days, well, time will tell.
    — Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 26 July 2026
Definition of enthusiastic
Adjective
  • Once an avid Pilates goer, Beretti struggles to go up the stairs and can no longer run or jump.
    — Ella Moore July 23, Miami Herald, 23 July 2026
  • Aside from his prowess on the basketball court, Brunson has become known in some circles as an avid TV viewer.
    — Shelby Stivale, Entertainment Weekly, 22 July 2026
Definition of avid
Adjective
  • If her dialogue sometimes seems too eager to articulate the screenwriters’ own ethical arguments, that’s a small price to pay for a thriller so committed to exploring the impressive reach of violence.
    — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 22 July 2026
  • During the interview, Hudson said that Wells was eager to celebrate the holiday on the island.
    — Adam England, PEOPLE, 22 July 2026
Definition of eager
Adjective
  • Kids who, like him, are growing up afraid and anxious because of domestic violence at home, and who need what Torre didn’t have — somewhere safe to go to for help.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 26 July 2026
  • In June, a group of anxious European policy researchers issued Europe 2031, a scenario in which civilization between the Urals and the Atlantic ends up at least functionally extinct.
    — Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 25 July 2026
Definition of anxious
Adjective
  • In her Tinker Bell costume, Ashley seems as thirsty for a peach as Shamea is, reveling in the opportunity to tell her side of the story but obviously sprinkling her own fairy dust of exaggeration into the narrative.
    — Ile-Ife Okantah, Vulture, 27 July 2026
  • Drinking plenty of water even when not thirsty and wearing lightweight, light-colored clothing can help.
    — Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 26 July 2026
Definition of thirsty

Browse Nearby Words

hung (over)
hungry
hung together
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Hungry.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hungry. Accessed 29 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on hungry

Nglish: Translation of hungry for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of inveigle

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

Your vs. You're: How to Use Them Correctly
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

The Words of the Week - Jul 24

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
chain-question-mark
Missing Link Quiz July 2026 Five seconds to figure out the word that fits bot...
See All