as in hunger
suffering or death caused by having nothing to eat or not enough to eat; the condition of someone who is starving
The famine brought mass starvation. Millions of people face starvation every day. They died from starvation.
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Recent Examples of starvation
The risk of starvation was real.
—
John P. Murphy, ARTnews.com, 5 Apr. 2026
The consequences will ultimately be most severe where needs are already most acute, in countries like Sudan, where the United Nations repeatedly documented famine in 2024 and 2025 and continues to warn of the threat of mass starvation.
—Comfort Ero, Time, 3 Apr. 2026
By this point, experts were warning that half a million people in Gaza were at risk of starvation, and organizations such as the Rabbinical Assembly, an association of Conservative rabbis, were urging immediate action to alleviate civilian suffering.
—Eyal Press, New Yorker, 30 Mar. 2026
Court records show that Gabriel was tortured by starvation, shot by BB guns, and forced to eat cat litter, cat feces and his own vomit.
—Rick Montanez, CBS News, 30 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for starvation
John P. Murphy, ARTnews.com, 5 Apr. 2026
The consequences will ultimately be most severe where needs are already most acute, in countries like Sudan, where the United Nations repeatedly documented famine in 2024 and 2025 and continues to warn of the threat of mass starvation.
—Comfort Ero, Time, 3 Apr. 2026
By this point, experts were warning that half a million people in Gaza were at risk of starvation, and organizations such as the Rabbinical Assembly, an association of Conservative rabbis, were urging immediate action to alleviate civilian suffering.
—Eyal Press, New Yorker, 30 Mar. 2026
Court records show that Gabriel was tortured by starvation, shot by BB guns, and forced to eat cat litter, cat feces and his own vomit.
—Rick Montanez, CBS News, 30 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for starvation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for starvation
Noun
-
More than this many people face acute hunger, according to the World Food Program.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
15 Apr. 2026
-
Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) treatment combines medications, structured nutrition, and therapy to help manage hunger, behavior, and growth.—
Health,
Health,
15 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Released in 2014, Interstellar took place in a dystopian future where Earth is suffering from world-ending famine, prompting a group of astronauts — led by former NASA test pilot Coop (Matthew McConaughey) — to go in search of a new home for humanity.—
Derek Lawrence,
Entertainment Weekly,
10 Apr. 2026
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Born out of famine and conflict, both civil and global, this attitude still shapes Japanese thought and creativity.—
Caleb Jacobs,
The Drive,
9 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
She was left without food, water or contact with anyone and ultimately died of severe dehydration and malnutrition, despite food being available elsewhere in the house, per the statement.—
Nicole Acosta,
PEOPLE,
7 Apr. 2026
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But the medicines or treatments for malnutrition will expire, Kitchen says.—
Fatma Tanis,
NPR,
6 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Starvation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/starvation. Accessed 20 Apr. 2026.
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