Word: cravings

Associations

Cravings refer to strong desires or urges, often related to food or specific activities. They can occur when a person feels a need for something particular and can be quite intense.

• Food cravings: You may feel a craving for chocolate after a long day. This means you really want to eat chocolate.
• Emotional cravings: Someone might have a craving for attention or affection when they feel lonely.
• Substance cravings: A person recovering from addiction may experience cravings for cigarettes or alcohol.

The well-known synonym for cravings is "longing." However, "longing" can be more associated with a deep emotional desire for something not necessarily tied to immediate needs, whereas "cravings" often involve something you want to satisfy right away.

Substitution

Some other words you can use instead of cravings include:

• Desires: This may suggest a lighter wish for something.
• Yearnings: This indicates a stronger emotional longing, often more abstract.
• Hunger: This is more specific to food and can imply an urgent need rather than just a desire.

Deconstruction

The word "cravings" comes from the root "crave," which means to want something very strongly. The suffix "-ing" makes it a noun, showing that it is an ongoing state or action. Historically, "crave" comes from the Old English "crafian," which means to ask for or demand. Understanding this can help you see cravings as strong demands for something we desire.

Inquiry

• Can you think of a time when you had a strong craving for something? What was it?
• How do cravings affect your daily life? Do they lead to good or bad choices?
• What do you think causes cravings? Is it physical, emotional, or something else?