1
as in hungry
feeling a desire or need for food
after a full day of skiing, I was feeling absolutely famished
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2
as in impoverished
lacking money or material possessions
a group of local citizens working to ease the plight of the famished families in their community
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Recent Examples of famished
On the outskirts of Wollongong, waking at dawn from its 20-hour nap, a famished, branch-hugging koala stretched its claw skyward for a fat, juicy green eucalyptus leaf.
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Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 14 Jan. 2024
Yang discovers that among famished Chinese in extremis, cannibalism was more widespread than previously known.
—Andrew J. Nathan, Foreign Affairs, 18 Feb. 2013
Her eyes, so Mesopotamian, now overwhelmed her famished face.
—Junot Díaz, The New Yorker, 30 Oct. 2023
After marathon talks that saw Cameron and his team sustain themselves on 23 bags of Haribo gummy sweets and a famished German Chancellor Angela Merkel forced to pop around the corner for some Belgian Frites with mayonnaise, the United Kingdom and its European partners finally reached an agreement.
—R. Daniel Kelemen, Foreign Affairs, 28 Feb. 2016
See all Example Sentences for famished 
Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 14 Jan. 2024
Yang discovers that among famished Chinese in extremis, cannibalism was more widespread than previously known.
—Andrew J. Nathan, Foreign Affairs, 18 Feb. 2013
Her eyes, so Mesopotamian, now overwhelmed her famished face.
—Junot Díaz, The New Yorker, 30 Oct. 2023
After marathon talks that saw Cameron and his team sustain themselves on 23 bags of Haribo gummy sweets and a famished German Chancellor Angela Merkel forced to pop around the corner for some Belgian Frites with mayonnaise, the United Kingdom and its European partners finally reached an agreement.
—R. Daniel Kelemen, Foreign Affairs, 28 Feb. 2016
See all Example Sentences for famished
Recent Examples of Synonyms for famished
Adjective
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Back then, even Southern California, so far from the action, managed to profit from the gold fields up north, from selling cattle to feed the hungry prospectors.Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 11 Jan. 2025
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Pearce plays Van Buren as hungry and avaricious even in his kinder moments, a man of immense wealth whose primary desire is to own more and more.David Sims, The Atlantic, 10 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Mason Fung’s impoverished young defendant Ma Ka Kit is arrested after receiving a package of narcotics from overseas.James Marsh, Deadline, 10 Jan. 2025
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Since Sudan’s civil war drove a surge of refugees to Egypt starting in 2023, however, the impoverished government in Cairo has complained louder and louder about the burden of foreigners.Vivian Yee, New York Times, 9 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Everybody connected to the death of this poor guy is dead now.Makena Gera, People.com, 12 Jan. 2025
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With sleep disorders affecting approximately 70 million Americans and poor sleep linked to serious health risks like heart disease, stroke and cognitive decline, the Tone Buds represent a significant advancement in personal sleep technology.Kurt Knutsson, CyberGuy Report, Fox News, 12 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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If not a broke man’s Kyler Murray, Keene has a chance to be Gabriel-lite for Michigan.Austin Meek, The Athletic, 8 Jan. 2025
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Sheinbaum must walk a fine line between her constituents, who don’t want to see Mexico humiliated — or go broke — and the unpredictable, impetuous Trump.Patrick J. McDonnell, Los Angeles Times, 12 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near famished
Cite this Entry
“Famished.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/famished. Accessed 17 Jan. 2025.
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