lust

17 synonyms and 4 antonyms for lust, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Noun — A strong feeling of desire, especially sexual desire.

Synonyms

Everyday swaps

Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.

hunger love pride

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

craving appetite starve thirst crave

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

yearning covetousness aphrodisia carnality colt's tooth concupiscence the hots lech urge to merge

Synonyms by Meaning

1. noun

A strong feeling of desire, especially sexual desire.

“Their relationship began as pure lust before turning into something deeper.”

craving yearning hunger appetite covetousness aphrodisia carnality colt's tooth concupiscence the hots lech love pride urge to merge

Opposites

chastity apathy aphanisis lustlessness

2. verb

To feel a strong desire for someone or something.

“He lusted after the sports car in the showroom window.”

starve thirst crave hunger

How to use lust

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

lust for power lust after a look of lust

Etymology

From Old English lust ("desire, pleasure"), a Germanic word related to Dutch lust and German Lust, ultimately from a root meaning simply "pleasure."

Full origin of lust →

Frequently asked questions

Is lust always used in a negative sense?

Lust often carries a negative or cautionary tone, especially in moral or religious contexts where it is treated as an excessive or uncontrolled desire. In casual modern usage, however, it can be used more lightly, such as 'lusting after' a new gadget.

People also searched

love pride hunger appetite thirst starve craving crave apathy yearning chastity carnality

Nearby words

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