YEARN Synonyms: 23 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'yearn' distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of yearn are hanker , hunger , long , pine , and thirst . While all these words mean "to have a strong desire for something," yearn suggests an eager, restless, or painful longing. // yearned for a stage career

Q: Where would 'hanker' be a reasonable alternative to 'yearn'?

The synonyms hanker and yearn are sometimes interchangeable, but hanker suggests the uneasy promptings of unsatisfied appetite or desire. // always hankering for money

Q: How are the words 'hunger' and 'thirst' related as synonyms of 'yearn'?

Both hunger and thirst imply an insistent or impatient craving or a compelling need. // hungered for a business of his own // thirsted for power

Q: When could 'long' be used to replace 'yearn'?

Although the words long and yearn have much in common, long implies a wishing with one's whole heart and often a striving to attain. // longed for some rest

Q: When might 'pine' be a better fit than 'yearn'?

The words pine and yearn can be used in similar contexts, but pine implies a languishing or a fruitless longing for what is impossible. // pined for a lost love

yearn

verb

Definition of yearn next

as in to long

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word yearn distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of yearn are hanker, hunger, long, pine, and thirst. While all these words mean "to have a strong desire for something," yearn suggests an eager, restless, or painful longing.

yearned for a stage career

Where would hanker be a reasonable alternative to yearn?

The synonyms hanker and yearn are sometimes interchangeable, but hanker suggests the uneasy promptings of unsatisfied appetite or desire.

always hankering for money

How are the words hunger and thirst related as synonyms of yearn?

Both hunger and thirst imply an insistent or impatient craving or a compelling need.

hungered for a business of his own

thirsted for power

When could long be used to replace yearn?

Although the words long and yearn have much in common, long implies a wishing with one's whole heart and often a striving to attain.

longed for some rest

When might pine be a better fit than yearn?

The words pine and yearn can be used in similar contexts, but pine implies a languishing or a fruitless longing for what is impossible.

pined for a lost love

Examples Sentences

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Recent Examples of yearn Managers may yearn for the days when daily attendance was a given, but their employees have moved on to a new normal and appear to be in no mood to go back. —

Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 23 Oct. 2024 That the Iranian people yearned for such contact was evident to those Western thinkers who did manage to visit. —

Arash Azizi, The Atlantic, 20 Nov. 2024 But maybe Paramount can play that to its advantage and get viewers yearning for the good old days of Peter Jennings. —

Nate Jones, Vulture, 16 Nov. 2024 After completing their master’s and law degrees, the trio yearned to see more of the world. —

Taryn White, Travel + Leisure, 6 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for yearn