1
as in desire
sexual appetite
had chaperones at the prom to discourage kids with an adolescent itch
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in craving
a strong wish for something
has an itch to travel to far-off and exciting places
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3
as in lust
intense sexual desire
sailors on shore leave looking to satisfy the itch
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of itch
David Dickstein, Oc Register, 18 Mar. 2026
Apparently, cows know how to scratch an itch — with a broom.
—Mariangela Lisanti, Chicago Tribune, 16 Mar. 2026
Evan Grant, Dallas Morning News, 16 Mar. 2026
At times, St James’ Park has itched as if Wembley never happened.
—Chris Waugh, New York Times, 16 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for itch
Noun
For many travelers, that single day is enough to satisfy the safari itch while still leaving room for the wider region, where coastlines, cultures and unexpected contrasts hint at just how much more East Africa has to offer.
—David Dickstein, Oc Register, 18 Mar. 2026
Apparently, cows know how to scratch an itch — with a broom.
—Mariangela Lisanti, Chicago Tribune, 16 Mar. 2026
Verb
Seager is itching to play ping-pong in the middle of the clubhouse on the fancy table the Rangers installed this spring to help promote group activity.
—Evan Grant, Dallas Morning News, 16 Mar. 2026
At times, St James’ Park has itched as if Wembley never happened.
—Chris Waugh, New York Times, 16 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for itch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for itch
Noun
-
Sports, after all, can be a vehicle for shaping our values and expressing our desires.—
Louisa Thomas,
New Yorker,
5 Apr. 2026
-
As the war in Iran rages on, both rising oil prices and consumers’ decreasing desire to jet-set in uncertain times hang like a dark cloud over the industry, threatening to upend air travel across the world.—
Nicole Hoey,
Robb Report,
4 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
For a person struggling with substance abuse disorder, one strong craving can be the catalyst for a patient to completely abandon sobriety.—
CT Jones,
Rolling Stone,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Poor sleep can drive cravings that will exacerbate a perimenopausal increase in appetite, so adequate rest is key.—
Caroline Tien,
SELF,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Whale lusts after a hunky gardener (Brendan Fraser) and persuades him to pose for a few sketches; Julian, though bisexual, expresses no such interest in Lori, and any art-making turns out to be a gratifyingly mutual endeavor.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
3 Apr. 2026
-
Love, er, lust is in the air at Ludlow College.—
Erin Qualey,
Vulture,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The platform’s staff has seemed minorly annoyed at the shots Denk and others at Beehiiv have taken as Substack has moved from disruptor to incumbent.—
Max Tani,
semafor.com,
30 Mar. 2026
-
One who grew up respectful but annoyed by the success the league previously had in Seattle.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
25 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Both reflect a deep passion for a particular place—Johnson’s Middle Tennessee, Hiaasen’s South Florida—and a mixture of exasperation and grief at the destruction of the natural world to make room for megamansions and toxic waste dumps.—
Francine Prose,
The New York Review of Books,
4 Apr. 2026
-
The hometown kid Displayed in his unbridled passion, Perry lives in the moment.—
Aaron Heisen,
Daily News,
4 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Series creator Connor Hines, who penned the finale, and director Anthony Hemingway resist the urge to exploit the crash itself (thank God).—
Clayton Davis,
Variety,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Certainly, some people have a drive to collect, an urge to connoisseurship that seems innate.—
Mark Ellwood,
Robb Report,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Chandler Zavala has been fighting the injury bug his whole career.—
Alex Zietlow,
Charlotte Observer,
30 Mar. 2026
-
The cost of it, however, is boots and bug repellent.—
Amy Drew Thompson,
The Orlando Sentinel,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Desperate from thirst, Husayn rode out of the camp with his infant son to appeal for water, but an enemy archer shot an arrow through the child’s neck.—
Mary Thurlkill,
The Conversation,
30 Mar. 2026
-
As spring replaces winter’s chill, more people are reaching for a mix of spirits and mixers to quench their thirst.—
Alexis Simmerman,
Austin American Statesman,
24 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Itch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/itch. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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