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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
And what’s dramatic about this is that having grown up on a remote mountain farm in the 1940s, away from almost any remnant of civilization, Mikey has zero context for his erotic yearnings. — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 5 Sep. 2026 If your yearning for autumn kicks off early, here are three September festivals near Charlotte. — Charlotte Observer, 4 Sep. 2026 This feels like a good place to put our energy and our artistry and our yearning to set the world in order. — Antonia Blyth, Deadline, 4 Sep. 2026 Could this trend reflect a yearning for a return to a more egalitarian America? — John Blake, CNN Money, 22 Aug. 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
  • Every now and then, in the early hours of the morning, Kumar sits in the stillness to watch the fishermen return with their catch and feels a pang of longing.
    — Kamala Thiagarajan, NPR, 20 Sep. 2026
  • Several of my favorite poetry collections capture the nuanced process of breaking up, with its extreme states of longing, anger, and sorrow—while also expanding the capacity for joy, pleasure, and compassion.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 17 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
  • Although The Love Witch played around 100 theaters upon its 2016 debut, will audiences’ cravings for something different be enough to secure a wide release for The Face of Horror a decade later?
    — Glenn Garner, Deadline, 21 Sep. 2026
  • Needing coffee immediately upon waking and experiencing afternoon fatigue, irritability, anxiety, difficulty concentrating, sleep disturbances, and sugar cravings.
    — Marie Bladt, Vogue, 20 Sep. 2026
Definition of craving
Adjective
  • At the Miami-Dade Democratic Party’s Blue Gala featuring statewide candidates on the November ballot, speakers addressed the shifting dynamics and emphasized that Democrats can solve the state’s most pressing issues.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 20 Sep. 2026
  • For local authorities, access to farm land is one of the most pressing concerns.
    — Diego Ibarra Sánchez, NPR, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of pressing
Noun
  • Ellen displays intimacy with Lara in front of Ruby; Lara withholds and then offers attention; Ruby watches with envy, desire, and the alertness of a guest who cannot tell whether she is being welcomed or appraised.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 24 Sep. 2026
  • Produced by Sergio Adrià’s Espurna Films, with Sandra Hermida on board as co-producer, the film centers on 17-year-old Clara, whose desire to be seen and loved is complicated by a growing impulse to escape the expectations surrounding her.
    — Callum McLennan, Variety, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of desire
Adjective
  • But his presence in Monday’s festivities, held after an 8-3 win over the Twins at Target Field, illustrated why Aaron Judge was so insistent when asked if the championship-or-bust Bombers would celebrate a simple playoff berth.
    — Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 15 Sep. 2026
  • This means wasps may become more insistent at your picnic or dinner on the deck, says Benson.
    — Arricca Elin SanSone, Southern Living, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of insistent
Noun
  • The urge to act quickly could be strong, but not every realization needs an immediate dramatic response.
    — Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 26 Sep. 2026
  • Palate-cleansing, complex, but also leaving an urge for a more primal satisfaction.
    — Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of urge
Adjective
  • The imperative to continue to innovate and scale climate technology feels more urgent to me every year.
    — Stéphane Germain, Fortune, 23 Sep. 2026
  • An urgent competition for the Moon The flashpoint of the near future is the Moon, where both NASA and China are in a contest to not just land humans but also establish a long-term settlement.
    — Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 23 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 27 Sep. 2026.

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