lust 1 of 2

noun

ˈləst How to pronounce lust (audio)
Definition of lustnext
1
as in passion
intense sexual desire he was overcome with lust when he saw the images

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in desire
a strong wish for something the belief that most politicians have a lust for power

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in thirst
urgent desire or interest vacation tours for people with a lust for adventure

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in lustfulness
sexual appetite a no-strings-attached relationship in which both parties were there merely for the satisfaction of their lust

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

lust

2 of 2

verb

as in to mate

Related Words

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 lust
Noun
And that sort of documentary hunt, or documentary vibe, or documentary lust for presence is still a main thing for me. — Chris O'Falt, IndieWire, 31 July 2026 Every Sunday is just a demolition derby, masked by metal and our feverish collective, institutionalized blood lust. — Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 26 July 2026
Verb
The man lusting for power is always active, the center of the show, relentless, vigilant, distrustful, restless when anything stands in his way. — David Brooks, Mercury News, 24 Jan. 2026 His looking at and lusting after women online hurts my feelings. — Abigail Van Buren, Boston Herald, 23 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for lust
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lust
  1. passion
  2. desire
  3. thirst
  4. mate
  5. eroticism
  6. craving
  7. enthusiasm
  8. copulate
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
  • 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
  • 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
Verb
  • Eagles typically begin mating at 5 though some have started at the age of 4.
    — Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 31 July 2026
  • So the magnolia is a generalist, and the orchids are very, very specialized, sometimes in cooperative ways with their pollinators, and sometimes in sneaky exploitative ways, like pretending to be a female wasp so male wasps try and mate with you.
    — Brianne Kane, Scientific American, 30 July 2026
Definition of mate
Noun
  • In between all that, the story comes in desire and danger, and that’s where the thriller, crime and eroticism emerge.
    — Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 29 July 2026
  • The therapist Esther Perel has a theory about America’s eroticism shortage.
    — Faith Hill, The Atlantic, 24 July 2026
Definition of eroticism
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
  • Do not let enthusiasm skip the part where others need a clear role today.
    — Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Or are younger, progressive voters who might be open to democratic socialism being over-sampled due to their very public enthusiasm?
    — Chris Brennan, USA Today, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of enthusiasm
Verb
  • Prosecutors said O’Connor tied up her arms, restrained her and then raped and orally copulated her.
    — Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 10 July 2026
  • While copulating, female praying mantises often kill their mates and eat them.
    — Elizabeth Kolbert, New Yorker, 22 June 2026
Definition of copulate

Phrases Containing lust

Browse Nearby Words

lush (up)
lust
lusted
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Lust.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lust. Accessed 15 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on lust

Nglish: Translation of lust 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!

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

The Words of the Week - Aug. 14

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
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
image of a green cube out of place in a lineup of red spheres
Odd Word Out: Synonyms Vol. 2 Quiz Figure out which word isn't like the others.
See All