Lust can mean a stronghaving great force, power, or intensity desirea wish or longing for something for something, especially in a sexual sense. It can also be used as a verb meaning to crave or desire something intenselyvery strongly; with a great deal of feeling.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-21. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /luhst/
Easy pronunciation: LUST (approximate spelling).
Stress: One syllable, stressed.
Verb sense: to have a strong craving or desire for something.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-21. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Lust Meaning
to want something very strongly
Part of speech: verb
Definition: to have a strong craving or desire for something
Example: He lusted after the latest sports car.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- crave — Works well for a strong desire or urge.
- hunger — Can fit in a figurative sense, but is less direct than crave.
- thirst — Can be used figuratively for a strong desire, but is less common.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-21. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Other Meanings of Lust
Meaning 2
a very strong sexual feeling
Part of speech: noun
Definition: a strong sexual desire
Example: The novel explores love, jealousy, and lust.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- lecherousness — Related to lust in a sexual sense, though more strongly suggests lechery.
- lustfulness — A direct synonym for sexual lust.
Meaning 3
sexual desire viewed as a sinful excess
Part of speech: noun
Definition: self-indulgent sexual desire, especially as one of the deadly sins
Example: In medieval theology, lust was listed among the seven deadly sins.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- luxuria — A historical or scholarly term, not a normal modern synonym.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-21. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Lust Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- crave
- hunger
- thirst
a strong sexual desire
- lecherousness
- lustfulness
self-indulgent sexual desire, especially as one of the deadly sins
- luxuria
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-21. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- Do not mix up the verb sense "lust for" with the noun sense "lust" meaning sexual desire.
- "Lustful" is related, but it is not the same word as "lust."
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-21. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does lust mean?
Lust usually means a very strong desire, especially sexual desire. As a verb, it means to crave or want something intensely.
What is a simple synonym for lust?
For the verb, a good synonym is "crave." For the noun, "lustfulness" is the closest direct synonym in the supplied data.
Is lust always sexual?
No. As a verb, it can mean to desire something strongly in general, though it is often used with a sexual meaning in everyday English.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-21. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
