Hankering — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb noun adjective /ˈhaŋ-kər/ han·ker

Meaning & Definition of Hankering

Hankering (verb)

  1. to have a strong or persistent desire, yearn —often used with for or after

Hankering (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a strong wish for something

    "I've had a hankering for pizza with anchovies all afternoon"

    similar: appetency, appetite, craving, desire, drive, hunger, itch, jones (slang), letch, longing, lust, passion, pining, thirst, thirstiness, urge, yearning, yen
    related: compulsion, impulse, impulsion, will, zeal, liking, love, taste, weakness, eagerness, impatience, want, wish, necessity, need, requirement, obsession, acquisitiveness, avarice, avariciousness, avidity, covetousness, cupidity, greed, greediness, rapaciousness, rapacity, cacoëthes, mania
    near: abhorrence, abomination, allergy, averseness, aversion, disfavor, disgust, disinclination, dislike, disliking, distaste, hatred, loathing, nausea, repugnance, repulsion, revulsion, apathy, indifference, insouciance, nonchalance, unconcern

Hankering (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. as in craving, longing

    similar: ambitious, appetent, covetous, craving, longing, pining, happy, hung up, obsessed, breathless, restive, restless, engaged, interested, amenable, disposed, game, glad, inclined, ready, unreluctant, willing, agog, antsy, anxious, ardent, athirst, avid, bonkers (informal), crazy, desirous, eager, enthused, enthusiastic, excited, geeked (slang), great, greedy, gung ho, hepped up, hopped-up, hot, hungry, impatient, juiced, keen, nuts, pumped, raring, solicitous, stoked (slang), thirsty, voracious, wild
    opposite: apathetic, indifferent, uneager, unenthusiastic, casual, incurious, insouciant, nonchalant, unconcerned, uninterested, aloof, detached, disinterested, impassive, stolid, halfhearted, lackadaisical, languid, languorous, lukewarm, spiritless, averse, disinclined, hesitant, loath, reluctant, unwilling

Related Entry: Hanker (for or after) (verb)

Hanker (for or after) is a different word from Hankering. The synonyms below are for hanker (for or after), not for hankering.

  1. to have an earnest wish to own or enjoy

    "hankering for some company in his lonely mountain cabin"

    "hanker after a life of leisure"

    similar: ache (for), covet, crave, desiderate, desire, die (for), hunger (for), itch (for), jones (for) (slang), long (for), lust (for or after), pant (after), pine (for), repine (for), salivate (for), sigh (for), thirst (for), want, wish (for), yearn (for), yen (for), set one's heart on
    related: spoil (for), adore, delight (in), dig, enjoy, fancy, groove (on), like, love, relish, revel (in), favor, prefer, admire, appreciate, cherish, prize, treasure, value
    near: abhor, abominate, despise, detest, execrate, hate, loathe, decline, refuse, reject, spurn

Related Entry: Hankering (for) (verb)

Hankering (for) is a different word from Hankering. The synonyms below are for hankering (for), not for hankering.

  1. as in longing (for), yearning (for)

    similar: aching (for), coveting, craving, desiring, dying (for), fancying, hungering (for), itching (for), longing (for), lusting (for or after), panting (after), pining (for), repining (for), sighing (for), thirsting (for), yearning (for), choosing, liking, pleasing, wanting, willing, wishing, deciding, determining, resolving

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Hankering

The most common words with a similar meaning to Hankering:

Slang: jones, geeked, stoked
Informal: bonkers
appetency, appetite, craving, desire, drive, hunger, itch, letch, longing, lust, passion, pining, thirst, thirstiness, urge, yearning, yen, ambitious, appetent, covetous, happy, hung up, obsessed, breathless, restive, restless, engaged, interested, amenable, disposed, game, glad, inclined, ready, unreluctant, willing, agog, antsy, anxious, ardent

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Hankering

Words with the opposite meaning of Hankering:

apathetic, indifferent, uneager, unenthusiastic, casual, incurious, insouciant, nonchalant, unconcerned, uninterested, aloof, detached, disinterested, impassive, stolid, halfhearted, lackadaisical, languid, languorous, lukewarm, spiritless, averse, disinclined, hesitant, loath, reluctant, unwilling

Related Words for Hankering

compulsion, impulse, impulsion, will, zeal, liking, love, taste, weakness, eagerness, impatience, want, wish, necessity, need, requirement, obsession, acquisitiveness, avarice, avariciousness, avidity, covetousness, cupidity, greed, greediness, rapaciousness, rapacity, cacoëthes, mania

Near Antonyms of Hankering

abhorrence, abomination, allergy, averseness, aversion, disfavor, disgust, disinclination, dislike, disliking, distaste, hatred, loathing, nausea, repugnance, repulsion, revulsion, apathy, indifference, insouciance, nonchalance, unconcern

Word Forms of Hankering

Inflections: hankered

Derived words: hankerer (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Hankering

probably from Dutch dialect hankeren

First known use: 1627

Frequently Asked Questions about Hankering

What does "Hankering" mean?

"Hankering" means to have a strong or persistent desire, yearn —often used with for or after. As an a verb, a noun and an adjective, it is defined as: to have a strong or persistent desire, yearn —often used with for or after. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Hankering"?

Other words for "Hankering" include appetency, appetite, craving, desire, drive, hunger, itch and jones. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Hankering" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Hankering"?

There are 98 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Hankering". Common alternatives include appetency, appetite, craving, desire, drive, hunger, itch, jones, letch and longing.

What is a slang word for "Hankering"?

Slang words for "Hankering" include jones, geeked and stoked.

What is the opposite of "Hankering"?

Antonyms of "Hankering" include apathetic, indifferent, uneager, unenthusiastic, casual, incurious, insouciant and nonchalant. Near antonyms include abhorrence, abomination, allergy and averseness.

How do you use "Hankering" in a sentence?

Examples of "Hankering" in a sentence: "I've had a hankering for pizza with anchovies all afternoon".

Is "Hankering" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Hankering" can be used as a verb, a noun and an adjective, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Hankering"?

"Hankering" is pronounced /ˈhaŋ-kər/ and divided into syllables as han·ker.