"Ravenous" vs. "insatiable": exploring hungry hearts

Reviewed and edited by

Lloyd Cooper 07/10/2024, 11:14

English.me team member

Ravenous and insatiable. What's the difference?

What is similar?

Both words describe intense, strong desires or appetites. They are often used metaphorically to describe an intense craving or need.

What is different?

Ravenous primarily describes an extreme hunger or desire for food, though it can be used metaphorically for other desires. Insatiable describes a desire or need that cannot be satisfied, not limited to hunger and often used more broadly.

Which one is more common?

Examples of usage

Ravenous

After the long hike, he was ravenous and devoured everything on his plate.
The ravenous wolves prowled the area, searching for their next meal.

Insatiable

Her insatiable curiosity led her to explore every corner of the museum.
He has an insatiable thirst for knowledge, always seeking to learn more.