aching (for)

verb

Definition of aching (for)next
present participle of ache (for)
1
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
2
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)
  1. pitying
  2. craving
  3. wanting
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
  • Polaroid cameras and vinyl records are a clear signal that people are craving real connections over AI polish.
    — Kim Salem-Jackson, Forbes.com, 26 June 2026
  • Whether that means trading heavier winter fragrances for something brighter, packing a beachy body mist for vacation, or simply craving a scent that feels a little lighter and easier to wear in the heat.
    — Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 24 June 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
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Cite this Entry

“Aching (for).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/aching%20%28for%29. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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