1
as in desire
sexual appetite
had chaperones at the prom to discourage kids with an adolescent itch
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in craving
a strong wish for something
has an itch to travel to far-off and exciting places
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3
as in lust
intense sexual desire
sailors on shore leave looking to satisfy the itch
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to annoy
to disturb the peace of mind of (someone) especially by repeated disagreeable acts
don't let her snide put-downs and wisecracks itch you—just ignore her
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of itch
Daryl Austin, USA Today, 12 Apr. 2026
The now-68-year-old engineer retired from NASA in 2013 but got the itch to return to the astral organization a few years after leaving.
—Carlos De Loera, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2026
Dr. John De Jong, Boston Herald, 26 Apr. 2026
The Ducks fed off a boisterous crowd that was itching for playoff hockey after patiently putting up with a lengthy rebuild.
—Eric Stephens, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for itch
Noun
Yeast infections often begin with a subtle itch that's easy to ignore at first.
—Daryl Austin, USA Today, 12 Apr. 2026
The now-68-year-old engineer retired from NASA in 2013 but got the itch to return to the astral organization a few years after leaving.
—Carlos De Loera, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2026
Verb
My cats seem to have started itching themselves.
—Dr. John De Jong, Boston Herald, 26 Apr. 2026
The Ducks fed off a boisterous crowd that was itching for playoff hockey after patiently putting up with a lengthy rebuild.
—Eric Stephens, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for itch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for itch
Noun
-
In mid-April, Meghan Trainor also called off her entire arena tour, citing a desire to spend time with her young children.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
2 May 2026
-
Renewable energy The global oil crisis has only deepened the desire by many countries to transition to clean energy, which could be a boon for the sector.—
Ivana Kottasová,
CNN Money,
2 May 2026
Noun
-
Aiming for 30 grams of protein at breakfast can reduce cravings, promote fullness, stabilize blood sugar, and help maintain muscle mass.—
Mira Miller,
Verywell Health,
1 May 2026
-
Kravitz is the opposite, as her Venus conjunct Pluto in Scorpio is deeply evocative; there is a deep craving for intimacy, soul-to-soul connection and closeness rooted in loyalty and reciprocity.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Airlines are doubling down on premium cabins as more travelers than ever are willing to spend extra to fly in comfort, and the lust for luxury doesn’t stop at the boarding door.—
Zach Wichter,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Typically, the former goaltender Hrudey is one of the sport’s more levelheaded commentators, not a lust-for-violence type.—
James Mirtle,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The non-meat use of the term came from the online chat room community, which by the late 1980s was already using it to denote a mass influx of data into their chat rooms that could trigger a computer crash and/or annoy chat room users.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
27 Apr. 2026
-
As a matter of fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if the president doesn’t get annoyed with him once or twice.—
NBC news,
NBC news,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Edmondson wears top hats, but his real passion is for period technology.—
Olivia Kan-Sperling,
Artforum,
2 May 2026
-
On the walls hang works by Andy Warhol, reflecting his long-standing passion as an art collector.—
Milena Malaver,
Miami Herald,
2 May 2026
Noun
-
For starters, a handful of clubs with needs at the most important position on the field — that’d be quarterback — resisted the urge to reach in a down year for the position, with most waiting until the later rounds to take a flier on a likely backup.—
Zak Keefer,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
-
If a user who is interacting with that AI-bot starts to express any words or feelings that even remotely reflect an urge to harm themselves or others, the bot should alert local authorities of the potential risk.—
Letters to the Editor,
Hartford Courant,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Although pest control companies offer lethal solutions such as carpenter bee traps or chemical treatments, the best way to keep carpenter bees from bugging you is using stained, sealed, varnished or treated wood in building projects.—
Sarah Linn
April 24,
Sacbee.com,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Upon arriving at big-league camp this spring, Rojas said the different grip initially bugged him.—
Dan Hayes,
New York Times,
23 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Beyond simply preventing blackouts, this facility is specifically designed to quench the massive power thirst of local AI data centers.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
4 May 2026
-
Excess sugar overwhelms the kidneys, which flush it — along with hydrating fluids — out through urine, leaving people dehydrated and trapped in a cycle of thirst.—
Samantha Agate,
Kansas City Star,
1 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Itch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/itch. Accessed 7 May. 2026.
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