Some common synonyms of hanker are hunger, long, pine, thirst, and yearn. While all these words mean "to have a strong desire for something," hanker suggests the uneasy promptings of unsatisfied appetite or desire.

Both hunger and thirst imply an insistent or impatient craving or a compelling need.

While the synonyms long and hanker are close in meaning, long implies a wishing with one's whole heart and often a striving to attain.

Although the words pine and hanker have much in common, pine implies a languishing or a fruitless longing for what is impossible.

The synonyms yearn and hanker are sometimes interchangeable, but yearn suggests an eager, restless, or painful longing.