Intense desire (7) Crossword Clue
Answer: LONGING (7 letters)
The answer to the crossword clue "Intense desire" with 7 letters is "LONGING".Longing refers to a strong, intense desire or yearning for something or someone, often accompanied by a sense of longing or wistfulness. It represents a deep emotional craving or wish for something that may be out of reach or difficult to attain.
Why “Longing” Fits
The clue asks for a single word (7 letters) meaning “intense desire.” The answer, LONGING, fits perfectly:
- Intense desire: Longing refers to a deep, emotional yearning or persistent desire for something unattainable, absent, or distant — directly matching the clue’s definition.
- Direct match: With seven letters, longing precisely fits the clue’s enumeration.
- Precise meaning: The word captures both emotional and psychological intensity, expressing desire laced with nostalgia, craving, or affection.
Longing stems from the human experience of wanting or missing something profoundly:
- Origin and usage: Derived from the Old English langung (from langian, meaning “to yearn for” or “to grow long”), longing originally referred to the ache of emotional separation.
Contexts:
- Emotional: Expresses heartfelt yearning — “She felt a longing for her childhood home.”
- Romantic: Often evokes an intense but unfulfilled affection — “His eyes showed longing as she departed.”
- Philosophical or spiritual: Can express desire for purpose, peace, or transcendence — “A human longing for meaning defines art and faith.”
Examples:
- “He looked across the sea with a longing for adventure.”
- “There was a deep longing in her heart for reconciliation.”
- “Poetry often gives voice to longing — the ache of absence.”
Quick crosswords like “intense desire (7)” often rely on emotionally charged yet common vocabulary:
- Alternative words like craving, yearning, or lusting may seem appropriate, but only longing fits the clue’s understated tone and seven-letter enumeration.
- Clues using “desire” paired with adjectives such as “deep,” “intense,” or “lasting” frequently lead to longing because it conveys more emotional depth than physical want.
- The word’s clarity and poetic universality make it a crossword favorite for emotion-based clues.
