YEARNING Synonyms: 122 Similar and Opposite Words

yearning 1 of 3

noun

ˈyər-niŋ

Definition of yearning

as in longing

a strong wish for something had a sudden yearning for something sweet

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

yearning

2 of 3

adjective

as in crying

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

yearning

3 of 3

verb

present participle of yearn

as in pining

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

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 yearning

Noun

Nolan foregrounds the nobility that guides the character (his guilt, his dedication to his men, his yearning for his family) and neglects his wily cunning and egotism. — Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 27 July 2026 For the uninitiated, Cohan isn’t at all off base to suggest that fans drop their yearning for this particular pair of characters. — Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 25 July 2026 Unrequited yearning, alcoholism, and suppressed desires abound in the 80-minute one-act play, which won Escola a Tony Award. — Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 15 July 2026 The scene forever changed the lyrics of Tyler’s hit to something much more profane, but no less yearning. — Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for yearning

Recent Examples of Synonyms for yearning

Noun

Personal longings and professional obligations may be at odds today.

— USA TODAY, USA Today, 21 Aug. 2026
Like with Channel Orange, Ocean is narrating life from 10,000 feet up, able to communicate pain and lust and longing with a kind of precision that, if nothing else, should prove how singular the human spirit truly is.

— Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of longing

Noun

But despite the evident craving for stories about L-O-V-E, literary fiction has struggled to master the art of the crossover.

— Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 13 Aug. 2026
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

Definition of craving

Adjective

Verhoeven and Victorian also gave viewers the chance to ask their most pressing questions via Instagram ahead of the live broadcast, as well as a live chat box during the stream.

— Beatrice Verhoeven, HollywoodReporter, 18 Aug. 2026
The annual event brings stakeholders together to discuss the most pressing issues facing the lake and its surrounding forest.

— Haley Parsley August 17, Sacbee.com, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of pressing

Noun

Having a comfy and accommodating chair can reduce the desire to get up give you more time to get more work done.

— BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 19 Aug. 2026
Trump’s desire, which is to coat the granite facade with white paint, has been met with significant pushback from historians who say that covering the historic building’s granite exterior with paint could trap moisture and damage the stone.

— News Desk, Artforum, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of desire

Adjective

But by the time Isla was 15 months, Jacalyn had grown more insistent.

— Brad Quick, CNBC, 18 Aug. 2026
As Cusk has become more disdainful of fiction and more insistent on the documentary function of art, her work has become vaguer and less concrete, fading like old ink into blurred indeterminacy.

— Becca Rothfeld, New Yorker, 16 Aug. 2026

Definition of insistent

Adjective

Given no one knows a business like its own people, sharing the most urgent challenges and encouraging new ideas at every level could make a tangible difference to the bottom line, and do away with productivity theater for good.

— Barnaby Lashbrooke, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026
New Yorkers received urgent instructions to take shelter immediately on Thursday evening after a tornado warning was issued for Queens and other parts of New York.

— Amethyst Martinez, USA Today, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of urgent

Cite this Entry

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“Yearning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/yearning. Accessed 25 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of yearning

noun

adjective

verb

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