Insatiable

Insatiable is an English adjective meaning unable to be satisfied or quenched. It is commonly used to describe desires, appetites, or curiosity that seem endless, regardless of how much is already obtained. The term can refer to physical hunger, intellectual pursuits, or emotional needs, and it is used in literal as well as metaphorical senses. In everyday language it often conveys a strong, persistent pull that resists final fulfillment.

Etymology and forms: Insatiable derives from Latin insatiabilis 'not able to be satisfied', from in- 'not' + satis 'enough' + -abilis 'able to.' It entered English via Old French insatiable. Related forms include insatiability (noun) and insatiably (adverb). Synonyms include unquenchable, ravenous, voracious, and insatiate; nuances vary with context.

Usage notes: The word is typically applied to abstract urges—knowledge, power, love, ambition—though literal hunger is common as well. It implies an inexhaustible demand rather than a one-time craving and can carry moral or psychological overtones when describing a person’s behavior or motives. In neutral or literary contexts it may avoid moral judgment, whereas in everyday speech it can imply greed or excess.

In popular culture: Insatiable has been used as a title for a television series and is often cited as an example of a descriptor that signals limitless desire. See also insatiability and insatiably.