itch 1 of 2

noun

Definition of itchnext
1
as in desire
sexual appetite had chaperones at the prom to discourage kids with an adolescent itch

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in craving
a strong wish for something has an itch to travel to far-off and exciting places

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in lust
intense sexual desire sailors on shore leave looking to satisfy the itch

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

itch

2 of 2

verb

ˈich How to pronounce itch (audio)
as in to annoy
to disturb the peace of mind of (someone) especially by repeated disagreeable acts don't let her snide put-downs and wisecracks itch you—just ignore her

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of itch
Noun
But The Dink has a 74% on RT (compared to 26% for The Hawk) and might scratch that sports-movie itch if it hasn’t already been scratched. — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 25 July 2026 But this past summer, that itch has felt more like a siren’s call as, like many outdoors lovers, I’ve been saddened by reports of serious overcrowding at one of America’s crown jewels. — Jaclyn Cosgrove, Los Angeles Times, 23 July 2026
Verb
However, color-curious homeowners might be itching to go against convention—and French gives you her blessing to think outside of the box. — Kelsey Mulvey, Vogue, 6 Aug. 2026 Lionel Messi’s status for the Inter Miami home game against the Columbus Crew on Saturday remains up in the air, but the Argentine star seems to be itching to play. — Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 31 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for itch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for itch
  1. desire
  2. craving
  3. lust
  4. annoy
  5. passion
  6. urge
  7. bug
  8. thirst
Noun
  • Emery’s desire to blood Madjo early was ultimately reflected in picking him to start ahead of Tammy Abraham — who the club are willing to listen to offers for — in Salzburg.
    — Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Modern food consumption is also a good example of how abundance doesn’t necessarily eliminate the desire for luxury.
    — Preston Fore, Fortune, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of desire
Noun
  • For kiddos and adults, fruit serves as a healthy alternative to candy, delivering vitamins, fiber, and hydration while satisfying sweet cravings.
    — Sierra Leone Starks, Parents, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Ostensibly, GLP-1s don’t just quiet the appetite but also impact broader cravings.
    — Jesse M. Pines, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of craving
Noun
  • Mostly because the object of Faydra’s sudden, all-devouring lust is her soon-to-be stepson.
    — Erik Pedersen, Deadline, 10 Aug. 2026
  • The dramatic recipe involves equal parts literary ambition, risk-taking, and chutzpah, with a dash of substance abuse, cooked on the high heat of adolescent lust that brings Tony to Provincetown in pursuit of a schoolmate named Nancy (Emilia Jones).
    — Sheldon Pearce, New Yorker, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of lust
Verb
  • At the Glenn-Mills trial in Los Angeles, Meta attorneys repeatedly hammered witnesses about the lack of a listing — at times appearing to annoy jurors and test the patience of the court.
    — Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 8 Aug. 2026
  • During his last visit to Tehran in 2012, Aryan Diba enjoyed the sweeping hospitality of the city, but was annoyed when he and a group of friends were disrupted by local authorities while talking to a group of women at a local fast food joint.
    — Colin Wrenn, Denver Post, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of annoy
Noun
  • When asked to name a passion that has heightened with age, Shatner cites staying alive.
    — Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 8 Aug. 2026
  • Her study of Chinese art history would become another lifelong passion.
    — Tori Latham, Robb Report, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of passion
Noun
  • There are shocking twists but on such a grand scale that the urge to laugh is as strong as the urge to scream.
    — Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 10 Aug. 2026
  • There’s an urge to preserve something sacred and ancient, to avoid handing everything over to our brightly lit, modern world.
    — The New Yorker, New Yorker, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of urge
Verb
  • Not too much bugs him, but he sometimes is annoyed by his baby sister and doesn’t trust people who put pineapple on their pizza.
    — Pioneer Press, Twin Cities, 10 Aug. 2026
  • The indictment revealed that prosecutors had bugged the Aisenbergs' home for three months after Sabrina's disappearance.
    — Curran Rastogi, ABC News, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of bug
Noun
  • Pritzker can do nothing about much of the electorate’s seemingly insatiable thirst for silliness.
    — Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2026
  • That can be useful for eating disorders because people often disconnect from feelings such as hunger, thirst, fatigue and cold.
    — Alexandra Pattillo, Scientific American, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of thirst

Phrases Containing itch

Browse Nearby Words

italicizing
itch
itched
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Itch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/itch. Accessed 13 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on itch

Nglish: Translation of itch for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of salvo

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

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?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

'Gaslighting,' 'Woke,' 'Democracy,' and Other Top Lookups
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
fridge-magnet-letters
Drop a Letter Quiz August 2026 Drop a letter from a word to make a totally diffe...
See All