itching

[ ich-ing ]

adjective

1. of, relating to, or characterized by an irritating sensation of the skin.
2. of, relating to, or having a longing or desire to do or have something:

   An itching public anxiously awaits her announcement.

3. characterized by restlessness or the desire for adventure or activity:

   an itching impulse to travel.

4. characterized by the desire to grasp; grasping; an itching palm open for a bribe.

noun

1. itch.

Other Words From

• itching·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of itching¹

before 1000; Middle English ( y ) ichinge, ( y ) itchinge (noun, adj.); replacing Old English giccende (adj.). See itch, -ing ², -ing ¹

Example Sentences

A reaction may cause itching, redness, or an unsightly rash.

From Popular-Science

They are rushing to doctors for help, pleading for a cure to the painful itching.

From Washington Post

This product is clinically shown to help reduce the itching and irritation of eczema.

From Essence.com

It also has anti-inflammatory qualities and helps reduce itching.

From Essence.com

The marks on their legs and arms looked like ant or mosquito bites, which can cause burning and itching, but usually subside within a week.

From Popular-Science

The Into the Woods director, it soon becomes clear, is itching to get something off his chest.

From The Daily Beast

It was like witnessing the last two weeks of the life of a blind and toothless dog you knew the vet was just itching to destroy.

From The Daily Beast

Itching for the erotic details of Jess and Nick's New Girl dalliance?

From The Daily Beast

And of course, as schools open up again across the country, many high schoolers are itching with misgivings of their own.

From The Daily Beast

American congressmen itching for a fight declared they would no longer eat French fries, only “freedom fries.”

From The Daily Beast

My late distemper of heat and itching being come upon me again, so that I must think of sweating again as I did before.

From Project Gutenberg

In hay fever, the itching and redness of the eyes, nose, and throat are controlled from a sensitive point in the naso-pharynx.

From Project Gutenberg

I gravely placed a gold piece in his itching palm, asking, "What did they write on the walls?"

From Project Gutenberg

Itching and reddening of the skin commenced within twenty-four hours.

From Project Gutenberg

An itching red spot about the size of a dime was noticed in thirty-six hours, and it steadily increased in size.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• awful
• disgusting
• disturbing
• eerie
• frightening
• ghoulish
• macabre
• menacing
• ominous
• sinister
• terrifying
• weird