pining 1 of 3

noun

as in longing
a strong wish for something a sudden pining to have steak for dinner

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

pining

2 of 3

adjective

as in covetous

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

pining

3 of 3

verb

present participle of pine
as in yearning

Related Words

Dissimilar 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 pining
Noun
Reporter and Army vet Mare (Chelsea Frei) does a little secret pining for the new boss. — Sara Netzley, Entertainment Weekly, 2 July 2026 De la Fuente has received a lot of criticism from the media and Spanish fans online for Monday’s performance, and there is a lot of nostalgic pining for former assistant manager Pablo Amo, who left the coaching staff in February 2025 but who many say was the real mastermind of the Euro 2024 squad. — Patrick Sung Cuadrado, CNN Money, 21 June 2026 Zohran Mamdani has just moved in, and considering the thoughtful aesthetic details of his campaign—which his stylish first lady, artist Rama Duwaji, had a hand in designing—we’re pining for a look at how the couple decorates their new digs. — Katie Schultz, Architectural Digest, 14 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pining
  1. longing
  2. covetous
  3. craving
  4. desire
  5. urge
  6. thirst
Noun
  • Humans have speculated about eternal life since ancient times, Gershwin said, and the longing is close to universal.
    — Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 6 Aug. 2026
  • King, the urban refugee recalls running carefree in the woods long ago and claims such memories express a universal canine longing.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of longing
Adjective
  • Starring Elordi and Barry Keoghan, Fennell’s dark comedy about class resentment and covetous destruction was sold on the promise of erotic excess.
    — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 9 Feb. 2026
  • For most players, that amount of storage is realistically enough for all but the most covetous data hoarders.
    — Matt Kamen, Wired News, 3 Aug. 2025
Definition of covetous
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
  • 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
  • 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
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

Browse Nearby Words

pinholes
pining
pining (away)
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Cite this Entry

“Pining.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pining. Accessed 16 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on pining

Nglish: Translation of pining for Spanish Speakers

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