thirst

noun

ˈthərst How to pronounce thirst (audio)
Definition of thirstnext
1
as in craving
a strong wish for something his thirst for knowledge is evident in his book-filled house

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in enthusiasm
urgent desire or interest an unquenchable thirst for travel that has led her to the far corners of the globe

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 thirst Vuskovic’s thirst to improve is accompanied by a temperament to deal with setbacks, indicating a maturity beyond his years. — Andy Naylor, New York Times, 25 July 2026 High-sodium foods can increase thirst and may contribute to temporary bloating during flights. — Teresa Mull, FOXNews.com, 25 July 2026 Garner’s original no-ice, pint-glass version is perfect for an anytime thirst quencher. — Maggie Meyer Glisan, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 July 2026 Pay attention to thirst and, if needed, track your fluid intake. — Heather Jones, Verywell Health, 21 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for thirst
Recent Examples of Synonyms for thirst
  1. craving
  2. enthusiasm
  3. desire
  4. hunger
  5. longing
  6. appetite
  7. urge
  8. excitement
Noun
  • For kiddos and adults, fruit serves as a healthy alternative to candy, delivering vitamins, fiber, and hydration while satisfying sweet cravings.
    — Sierra Leone Starks, Parents, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Ostensibly, GLP-1s don’t just quiet the appetite but also impact broader cravings.
    — Jesse M. Pines, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of craving
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
  • Emery’s desire to blood Madjo early was ultimately reflected in picking him to start ahead of Tammy Abraham — who the club are willing to listen to offers for — in Salzburg.
    — Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Modern food consumption is also a good example of how abundance doesn’t necessarily eliminate the desire for luxury.
    — Preston Fore, Fortune, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of desire
Noun
  • Young people today have a real hunger for interesting, honest stuff that doesn’t feel jury-rigged to make a ton of money.
    — Marta Balaga, Variety, 6 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 hunger
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
Noun
  • Because a news organization that comes in to take advantage of this [appetite] has also done their research and anticipated questions and is preparing for pushback.
    — Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 11 Aug. 2026
  • As Chinese people’s incomes have grown, so has their appetite for meat, dairy, and other goods.
    — Caitlin Welsh, Foreign Affairs, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of appetite
Noun
  • There are shocking twists but on such a grand scale that the urge to laugh is as strong as the urge to scream.
    — Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 10 Aug. 2026
  • There’s an urge to preserve something sacred and ancient, to avoid handing everything over to our brightly lit, modern world.
    — The New Yorker, New Yorker, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of urge
Noun
  • Despite her excitement, Reynolds admits joining such a beloved series came with plenty of pressure.
    — Tanya Fedak, Variety, 10 Aug. 2026
  • DaCosta said that Moore greeted students with excitement every day as parents dropped them off.
    — Dan Raby, CBS News, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of excitement

Phrases Containing thirst

Browse Nearby Words

third rails
thirst
thirsted (for)
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Thirst.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/thirst. Accessed 13 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on thirst

Nglish: Translation of thirst for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about thirst

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 salvo

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Words of the Week - Aug. 14

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List
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
fridge-magnet-letters
Drop a Letter Quiz August 2026 Drop a letter from a word to make a totally diffe...
See All