Hunger for control

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Hunger for control" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a strong desire or craving for power or authority over situations or people. Example: "His hunger for control often led to conflicts with his colleagues, as he struggled to delegate tasks."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Huffington Post

The Guardian

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

Her hunger for control could well be put down to her troubled relationship with her father.

The Guardian - Film

But Mr. Trimble sees a North-South Council asurrendernder to Catholic Republican hunger for control in the north.

The New York Times

These scenes from the corners of his mind are meant to alert us to what motivates Lucious, the street kid now mogul and his insatiable yet ruthless hunger for control and power.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

And in a drooling hunger for control, the MB unleashed their cadres onto the institutions of the state in a rabid race to control them, what we have called ikhwanization.

The New York Times

We know from bitter experience in both Iraq and Libya that the downfall of Middle Eastern tyrants leads not to democracy but to chaos; and in Saudi Arabia there is no doubt that both Isis and al-Qaeda hunger for control of the two mosques and the religious prestige that would confer.

Independent

Unlike so many of the less-than profound novels being published today, one must pay attention when reading The Informer, but that may be asking a lot of our fast-food society, one that is willing to believe in fallacies in order to satisfy its hunger for control.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

A few employees resigned, afraid we'd all be consumed by the hunger for editorial control exhibited by the board.

The Guardian - Opinion

Perhaps it was his hunger for total control (as at Stuttgart and Wolfsburg, Magath combined the roles of manager and director of football at Schalke)?

BBC

Reductionistic perhaps but the love of power and hunger for the control of an empire had clouded, and still does, the true mission of Muhammad.

Huffington Post

"You know what happens when a pure and original rock band gets polluted, poisoned by hunger for power and control issues?", he fumed on his website.

The Guardian - Music

What Mr. Dallek has done, and done remarkably deftly, in this volume is focus on the relationship between the two men, and the ways in which their personal traits — their drive, their paranoia and their hunger for power and control — affected their performance in office and informed their foreign policy decisions.

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use the phrase "hunger for control" to depict a character's internal motivation or a group's collective ambition in narratives. This highlights the intensity of their desire.

Common error

Avoid using "hunger for control" in professional settings where a more neutral term like "desire for authority" might be more appropriate. The intensity implied by "hunger" can sometimes sound overly aggressive.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "hunger for control" functions primarily as a noun phrase, often serving as the subject or object of a sentence. Ludwig examples demonstrate its use in describing motivations and desires.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Huffington Post

17%

The Guardian

16%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "hunger for control" effectively conveys a strong desire for power and authority. Ludwig AI validates its grammatical correctness and notes its common usage in describing motivations or analyzing character traits, particularly within News & Media contexts. While alternatives like "desire for authority" offer a more neutral tone, "hunger for control" provides a vivid and impactful way to depict the intensity of that drive. Understanding its connotations helps writers use it judiciously, avoiding overuse in overly formal or professional situations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Desire for authority

Focuses on the wish for legitimate power, omitting the potentially negative connotation of "hunger".

Craving for dominance

Emphasizes an intense longing to be in a superior position.

Thirst for power

Uses "thirst" as a metaphor for a strong desire for influence and control.

Lust for control

Implies a more passionate and potentially immoral desire to manipulate.

Yearning for supremacy

Highlights a deep longing to be superior and in charge.

Appetite for control

Replaces "hunger" with "appetite", suggesting a more moderate desire.

Need for control

Suggests a psychological requirement rather than a mere desire.

Drive for power

Focuses on the ambition and motivation behind seeking control.

Longing for command

Emphasizes the desire to be in a position of authority and give orders.

Inclination to dominate

Highlights a natural tendency or predisposition towards being in control.

FAQs

How can I use "hunger for control" in a sentence?

You can use "hunger for control" to describe someone's strong desire to dominate situations or people. For example, "His hunger for control often led him to micromanage his team."

What's a less intense way to express "hunger for control"?

Alternatives like "desire for authority" or "need for control" express a similar concept with less intensity.

Is "hunger for control" always negative?

While often associated with negative traits like manipulation, "hunger for control" can sometimes describe a leader's determination to guide a group effectively. It depends on the context and the actions taken.

What is the difference between "hunger for control" and "thirst for power"?

"Hunger for control" implies a more direct and hands-on desire to manage situations, while "thirst for power" often relates to a broader ambition for influence and authority.