thirstier; thirstiest
1
a
: feeling thirst
hungry and thirsty
b
: deficient in moisture : parched
thirsty land/soil
c
: highly absorbent
thirsty towels
d
: causing thirst
thirsty work
2
a
: having a strong desire for something : avid
thirsty for knowledge
b
informal : feeling or showing a strong desire for attention, approval, or publicity (as on social media)
… the brands did what was inevitable: They began to tweet about the question, hoping to grab some of that attention for their own. For a thirsty brand, the only thing better than April Fools' Day is a hugely viral meme.Abby Ohlheiser
thirstiness noun

Examples of thirsty in a Sentence

The salty food was making her thirsty. struggling to survive in that hot and thirsty climate
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Later in the segment, Underwood discusses his new role in STARZ’s Three Women and reacts to some thirsty tweets. Mya Abraham, VIBE.com, 30 Oct. 2024 Because hot air is thirstier — and therefore wetter — the rising heat has correlated with a rise in floods as well. Saul Elbein, The Hill, 30 Oct. 2024 Monday marked the first World Series game in the Bronx in 15 years, and the Yankees decorated the place in history and hype, showing videos of past championships, enlisting Derek Jeter to throw out the first pitch and regaling the thirsty crowd with some Ice Cube-countering rap from Fat Joe. Bill Plaschke, Los Angeles Times, 29 Oct. 2024 Despite the sticker price, this vehicle will still quell the speed demon inside the owner, while not being as expensive or nearly as thirsty as the AMG model. Nina Turner, Newsweek, 29 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for thirsty 

Word History

Etymology

Middle English thirsti, thursty, þristi, going back to Old English þurstig, þyrstig, from þurst thirst entry 1 + -ig -y entry 1 (with parallel formations in Middle Dutch dorstich, Old High German durstac, tursteg)

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of thirsty was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near thirsty

Cite this Entry

“Thirsty.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/thirsty. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

thirsty

adjective
thirstier; thirstiest
1
a
: feeling thirst
b
: needing moisture
thirsty land
2
: having a strong desire
thirsty for knowledge
thirstily
-stə-lē
adverb

Medical Definition

thirsty

adjective
thirstier; thirstiest
: feeling thirst

More from Merriam-Webster on thirsty

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!