thirsty

adjective

ˈthər-stē How to pronounce thirsty (audio)
thirstier; thirstiest
Synonyms of thirstynext
1
a
: feeling thirst
hungry and thirsty
b
: deficient in moisture : parched
thirsty land/soil
c
: highly absorbent
thirsty towels
d
: causing thirst
thirsty work
2
a
: having a strong desire for something : avid
thirsty for knowledge
b
informal : feeling or showing a strong desire for attention, approval, or publicity (as on social media)
… the brands did what was inevitable: They began to tweet about the question, hoping to grab some of that attention for their own. For a thirsty brand, the only thing better than April Fools' Day is a hugely viral meme.—Abby Ohlheiser
thirstiness
ˈthər-stē-nəs How to pronounce thirsty (audio)
noun

Synonyms of thirsty

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Examples of thirsty in a Sentence

The salty food was making her thirsty. struggling to survive in that hot and thirsty climate
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Add the cost of tires, consumables, a thirsty engine, and the fact that cars are all so ludicrously expensive to begin with these days, and soon the whole thing starts to look unsustainable. — Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 17 Aug. 2026 The driver's side section houses a 20-L drawer fridge easily accessed from bed – perfect for those who tend to get thirsty in the middle of the night. — New Atlas, 13 Aug. 2026 The water district has been paying residents to rip out their thirsty grass and replace it with landscaping or trees, banned most new commercial fountains and water features, and limited the amount of water golf courses may use. — Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 7 Aug. 2026 The mouse is a little bit hungry, a little bit thirsty, and watching his friends take this milkshake. — Quanta Magazine, 6 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for thirsty

Word History

Etymology

Middle English thirsti, thursty, þristi, going back to Old English þurstig, þyrstig, from þurst thirst entry 1 + -ig -y entry 1 (with parallel formations in Middle Dutch dorstich, Old High German durstac, tursteg)

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of thirsty was before the 12th century

Rhymes for thirsty

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Browse Nearby Words

thirst trap
thirsty
thirteen
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Cite this Entry

“Thirsty.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/thirsty. Accessed 21 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

thirsty

adjective
ˈthər-stē How to pronounce thirsty (audio)
thirstier; thirstiest
1
a
: feeling thirst
b
: needing moisture
thirsty land
2
: having a strong desire
thirsty for knowledge
thirstily
-stə-lē
adverb

Medical Definition

thirsty

adjective
ˈthər-stē How to pronounce thirsty (audio)
thirstier; thirstiest
: feeling thirst

More from Merriam-Webster on thirsty

Nglish: Translation of thirsty for Spanish Speakers

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