yearning 1 of 3

noun

ˈyər-niŋ How to pronounce yearning (audio)
Definition of yearningnext
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
Could this trend reflect a yearning for a return to a more egalitarian America? — John Blake, CNN Money, 22 Aug. 2026 Explorer, emphasizing the human yearning to discover and go farther. — Robert Pearlman, ArsTechnica, 13 Aug. 2026 The continued fascination with Monroe reflects a broader yearning for the glamour and larger-than-life movie stars of cinema's Golden Age. — Lauryn Overhultz, FOXNews.com, 1 Aug. 2026 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 See All Example Sentences for yearning
Recent Examples of Synonyms for yearning
  1. longing
  2. crying
  3. craving
  4. pressing
  5. desire
  6. insistent
  7. urge
  8. urgent
Noun
  • What shines through, however, are the lively longings of Kit herself as the movie doubles down on an interest in science that is only intimated in the novel.
    — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 4 Sep. 2026
  • As the symbols of the winter of 2026 become folk art in Minnesota, there continues to be a longing for answers, and for a recognition of the lasting damage that the surge inflicted on the state.
    — Emily Witt, New Yorker, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of longing
Adjective
  • Some in the pro-crying camp pointed to articles and headlines as proof.
    — Jon Sarlin, CNN Money, 11 July 2026
Definition of crying
Noun
  • Latter-day stars politely shrug off the comparisons; fans are chastened by having witnessed how fame — and a craving for control — undid their favorite performer.
    — Bianca Betancourt, CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Front-loading protein supports satiety, curbs cravings and stabilizes blood sugar, nutritionists say.
    — Samantha Agate, Kansas City Star, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of craving
Adjective
  • Gordon’s relentless efforts in high pressing and other team-wide work have been outstanding, and have been complemented by no little quality on the ball.
    — Pol Ballús, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
  • That’s an increasingly pressing question in light of the spate of rogue AI incidents that have hit OpenAI and Anthropic this summer.
    — Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of pressing
Noun
  • Her work in this area could be rewarded in Europe, where there is growing frustration with the United States as a reliable partner in space and a desire to have independent access to orbit for European astronauts.
    — Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 9 Sep. 2026
  • While Smith was on the IL, backup catcher Dalton Rushing was thrown into the starting role, learning how to balance the defensive responsibility of serving as the main backstop at the major-league level with a desire to also contribute offensively.
    — Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of desire
Adjective
  • Bangladeshi cinema has been equally insistent on subverting patriarchal stereotypes.
    — Ritesh Mehta, IndieWire, 5 Sep. 2026
  • But flatter work, especially photography and illusionistic painting, struggles to hold its position against the building’s insistent materiality.
    — Katy Barkan, Artforum, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of insistent
Noun
  • But almost immediately, so, too, was the duo’s urge to get back to work.
    — Dan Wiederer, New York Times, 7 Sep. 2026
  • After years staying in her home state during the pandemic, Hagerman has resisted the urge to upsize her house to keep rent costs down.
    — Alex Harring, CNBC, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of urge
Adjective
  • Though the days of urgent pleas to reduce power use in the hopes of preventing major outages appear to be largely over in California, local utilities still employ public safety power shutoffs.
    — Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Nine times out of 10, the story either feels urgent or very personal to the creators.
    — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of urgent

Browse Nearby Words

yearn (for)
yearning
yearning (for)
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Cite this Entry

“Yearning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/yearning. Accessed 14 Sep. 2026.

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