ACHING (FOR) Synonyms: 74 Similar and Opposite Words

aching (for)

verb

Definition of aching (for)

present participle of ache (for)

as in feeling (for)

to have sympathy for I ache for those people who have to spend the holidays alone

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in craving

to have an earnest wish to own or enjoy aching for some quiet time to himself

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for aching (for)

Verb

There is nothing pitying and also nothing airbrushed in the pictures—just the occasional haze of a misty morning or the blurry tremor of a burning brush pile.

— Casey Cep, New Yorker, 9 May 2026
Twenty-first-century indie shaped the identities of many Millennials, but it’s now often talked about with pitying nostalgia—as the bygone style of hipsters with handlebar mustaches pretending to be countercultural while making easy-listening music for hotel lobbies.

— Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 29 Aug. 2025

Definition of pitying

Verb

From Mongolia’s vast Gobi Desert and China’s high-altitude wine country to India’s wildlife-rich heartland, these destinations offer the cultural depth, natural beauty and sense of exclusivity that seasoned travelers are increasingly craving.

— Roger Sands, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026
For those craving something savory, try a hearty biscuit sandwich stacked with Southern staples like pimiento cheese and Neese’s Country Sausage, sourced from Greensboro.

— Brennan Long, Southern Living, 7 July 2026

Definition of craving

Verb

Bikes are also available on loan for guests wanting to explore the area, and in-room maps help craft the perfect itinerary, though the front desk will happily share recommendations.

— Maya Kachroo-Levine, Travel + Leisure, 7 July 2026
Holden’s clinging to purity isn’t only about wanting to turn back time, though.

— Lily Meyer, The Atlantic, 7 July 2026

Definition of wanting

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.

Browse Nearby Words

aching

aching (for)

achingly

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Aching (for).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/aching%20%28for%29. Accessed 9 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of aching (for)

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

tacit

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Popular in Wordplay

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 10

Popular

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes