What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
starved
Example
After hiking all day, I was absolutely starved and couldn't wait to eat. [starved: adjective]
Example
The small town was starved for resources and needed more funding to improve its infrastructure. [starved: verb]
ravenous
Example
After the workout, I was ravenous and ate an entire pizza by myself. [ravenous: adjective]
Example
The ambitious entrepreneur had a ravenous appetite for success and worked tirelessly to achieve it. [ravenous: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Starved is more commonly used in everyday language than ravenous, which may be considered more formal or literary.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between starved and ravenous?
Starved is more versatile and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, while ravenous may be considered more formal or literary.