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itch

itch

31 4.2
A strong desire to do or have something
  • noun
  • /ɪtʃ/
  • Informal
translation icon : ganas
  • It's an itch I've needed to scratch.

It's that itch that can never be scratched.

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Examples

  • Doing all the things you know, does that not satisfy an itch, a need for shiny things?

  • And I kind of feel that itch to maybe make a difference myself.

  • You have an itch to travel?

  • You hold on to that in case you get the itch to go hunting again.

  • But now she began to feel a little itch of rebellion.

    Fiction book (1995)
  • However, I am getting the itch to get back into the sporting world again.

    Blog text (6)
  • I'll continue doing this job and I'll scratch my creative performance itch on the weekends with open mics.

  • I've always had an itch to explore new cultures and learn different languages.

  • His persistent itch for adventure led him to travel the world.

  • Every artist has that itch to create something original and impactful.

Synonyms

desire
vsitch
1.6

A strong wish to have or experience something

is more restless and unsettled than a simple wanting
urge
vsitch
223 3.2

A strong desire to do something

is a restless longing rather than an immediate impulse to act
craving
vsitch
78 3.7

A very strong desire for things like food or cigarettes

is restless and unsettled rather than only intense
compulsion
vsitch
40 6.7

A strong urge to do something that is hard to control

is a desire that is restless but not necessarily uncontrollable
want
vsitch
27 1.0

A strong desire for something you wish to have

is stronger and more restless than a simple need or wish
hankering
vsitch
11 6.6

A strong wish to have or do something

is more restless and uneasy than gentle longing
yearning
vsitch
8 5.5

A strong, lasting wish for something you want but cannot get

is more restless and short term rather than deeply persistent
pining
vsitch
3 7.8

Missing someone or something very much and feeling sad

is restless desire but without the sad, melancholic tone
appetence
vsitch
9.9

A strong desire to have or do something

is more restless and urgent than a steady appetite

Antonyms

26 2.1

A feeling of being happy and satisfied with your life

5 5.8

Not feeling interested in something, like a talk or task

Idioms

5.3

To want very much to try new exciting things

A thought that keeps coming into your mind and is hard to forget

4.3

Satisfy a strong wish you cannot ignore

To do something that solves a problem you have

Compounds

2 6.6

A skin infection that causes itching in the groin, often in men

A cream you put on the skin to stop itching

Cuban itch
  • Archaic
9.9

A mild form of smallpox caused by a weaker virus

9.9

An infection you catch from another person during sex

dhobi itch
  • Indian
9.8

An itchy skin infection caused by a fungus, often on the inner thighs and groin

barber's itch
  • Archaic
8.9

A skin infection caused by a fungus on the beard and neck that makes red, itchy patches

itch mite
  • Specialized
8.2

A very small white animal that lives on the skin of people or animals and makes them scratch a lot

9.9

A disease from not having enough vitamin niacin that causes skin, stomach, and nerve problems

An itchy skin rash that appears after swimming in water with tiny parasites

How Strong

yearning
8 5.5
itch
  • Informal
31 4.2
desire
1.6
wish
474 1.0

Surface Forms

itch singular
itches plural

Etymology

The word itch was used for the small physical feeling of wanting to 'scratch', and this image of a restless urge led to the figurative meaning. So an itch for something is a strong, nagging desire to do or have it.