Synonyms for hanker

Most common

lust · crave · yearn · covet

All synonyms

Verb

Definitions

1. v. 1

   To crave, want or desire.

   If you hanker for chocolate, you'll like this fudge recipe.

Forms

Past participle

hankered
e.g. hankered → yearned, longed, coveted, craved…

Example sentences

• lust Love is merely a lyrical way of referring to lust.
• crave I crave change but lack the energy to pursue it.
• yearn I yearn for the days when we communicated effortlessly.
• covet Do not covet your neighbor’s wife.

Popularity over time

Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.

By length

4 letters

long¹, wish¹, lust¹

5 letters

crave¹, yearn¹, covet²

6 letters

hunger², thirst¹

The small number after each word is its number of syllables (covet² = 2 syllables).