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
Heaps of plot aren’t required, of course, but one watches Color of the Sun with a constant itch for something to burst through the movie’s mannered stillness and liven up the picture. — Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 9 Sep. 2026 Imagine trying not to blink, resisting the urge to sneeze or refusing to scratch an intense itch. — Michael Okun, The Conversation, 9 Sep. 2026
Verb
Just under two years later, the first Cybercabs are starting to hit the streets in Austin, Texas — and Tesla is just itching to sell you one. — Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 10 Sep. 2026 Having starred as Cinderella on Broadway in 2014, Jepsen has been itching to return, if under slightly different conditions. — Katie Heaney, Vulture, 9 Sep. 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
  • Alfonso recalled their discussions about how setting and movement could express the desire to survive.
    — Lin Ying-Hsuan, Variety, 8 Oct. 2026
  • The desire for these transformative products was never innate, and LACMA’s exhibition zeroes in on that idea from the start.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of desire
Noun
  • Here’s why real pumpkin deserves a place in your diet, plus delicious ways to satisfy your cravings this fall.
    — Jo Ann Liguori, Flow Space, 12 Oct. 2026
  • Keep one in your freezer for whenever your pumpkin pie craving strikes.
    — Jesse Szewczyk, Bon Appetit Magazine, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of craving
Noun
  • Groff’s writing is always transcendent, and her prose is especially on display in Matrix’s passages of holy visions, bodily lust, and political power.
    — James Folta, Literary Hub, 5 Oct. 2026
  • The gorgeous 16-track set explores grief, passion, hope, lust and reflection across four movements, featuring a bevy of special guests, including Thundercat, Steve Lacy, DRAM, Westside Gunn, Kamasi Washington, Earl Sweatshirt and more.
    — Isabela Raygoza, Billboard, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of lust
Verb
  • And now Snider found himself here, under a bright, blue sky, annoyed as a fireman examined the staples on the side of his head.
    — Geoff Edgers, Washington Post, 11 Oct. 2026
  • What annoys me is that this whole thing is called Roaring 20th, so why was there not a flapper and Great Gatsby theme?
    — Brian Moylan, Vulture, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of annoy
Noun
  • Volunteers Janice Maggiora and Donna Blink said McDaniel's passion for people inspires their own joyful giving.
    — Sharon Chin, CBS News, 8 Oct. 2026
  • This is the man who made the two-and-a-half-hour, stream-of-consciousness passion project Bardo (2022), after all, which several critics also found rather abrasive and self-indulgent.
    — Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of passion
Noun
  • Anthropic’s researchers tested fifteen other AI models on the same simulation, and found that all of them displayed similar urges.
    — Kevin Roose, Vanity Fair, 7 Oct. 2026
  • The shelter concluded its post by warning people to resist any urge to catch the snake.
    — Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of urge
Verb
  • And as the team moved into the couple’s guest house on their San Diego rental property, the filmmakers feared that the home was bugged and ordered a device to try to de-bug it, without success.
    — Kirsten Chuba, HollywoodReporter, 7 Oct. 2026
  • As a Bears fan, McDermott doesn’t want to disrupt the team and bug McCaskey or Warren too much.
    — Ryan Canfield OutKick, FOXNews.com, 20 Sep. 2026
Definition of bug
Noun
  • The trend not only reflects the reach of the broader wellness and longevity movement, but also a thirst for communal experience and social connection, particularly in the wake of the pandemic.
    — Will Stone, NPR, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Naturally, many of those discussions gravitated toward data centers and AI’s thirst for electrons.
    — Andrew Freedman, CNN Money, 28 Sep. 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 14 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

The Words of the Week - Oct. 9

Why do we call it a 'flea market'?
See More

Popular

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
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
a cup of tea and a golf ball on tee side by side
Quiz: Sounds Like... Choose the word that sounds like it fits the clue...
See All