acute hunger

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "acute hunger" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a severe or intense feeling of hunger, often in contexts related to food scarcity or personal experiences of hunger. Example: "After skipping breakfast and lunch, I was overwhelmed by acute hunger by the time dinner was served."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

34 human-written examples

Like Rasmussen, she falls through the ice (the scenes are thrilling), and she experiences acute hunger.

The New York Times - Books

Acute hunger was avoided, as was any major outbreak of disease.

The New York Times

In other words, malnutrition and acute hunger are not problems of availability, but of access and inequality.

The Guardian

None has reached the acute hunger crisis faced by Niger, in West Africa, during the summer.

The Washington Post

Many North Korean children remain ill-fed: 5% still suffer from acute hunger and an appalling 32% from chronic undernutrition.

The Economist

To cross it and then to come right back that would be entirely sufficient, would satisfy my inexplicable yet acute hunger.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

26 human-written examples

In Malawi itself, the prevalence of acute child hunger has fallen sharply.

The New York Times

It was dubbed the wonder product that "may just be the most important advance ever" when it comes to battling acute child hunger.

Independent

This gene is a partner that fuses with MLL, an oncogenic gene involved in the development of acute leukaemia (Hunger et al, 1993; Thirman et al, 1994; Hernandez et al, 1995; Dimartino and Cleary, 1999).

British Journal of Cancer

"The quiet presence of non-acute, endemic hunger leads to no newspaper turmoil, no political agitation, no riots in the Indian parliament.

The Guardian - Books

More than 4 million people are displaced and at least 8 million are in the acute stages of hunger.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In humanitarian or journalistic writing, pair this phrase with specific statistics to underscore the severity of the crisis.

Common error

Avoid using "acute hunger" when referring to structural, long-term poverty. Instead, use "chronic hunger" to describe persistent undernourishment that lasts for years.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "acute hunger" functions as an adjective-noun combination. The adjective 'acute' acts as a modifier to specify the intensity and sudden nature of the noun 'hunger'. Ludwig AI highlights its use in various grammatical positions, typically as the object of a verb or within a prepositional phrase.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

61%

Science

33%

Academia

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

1%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "acute hunger" is a robust and grammatically correct term used to describe life-threatening food deprivation. Ludwig AI highlights its prevalence in authoritative sources like the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and The Economist, where it often differentiates immediate crises from chronic conditions. Unlike general terms for being hungry, this phrase carries a specific humanitarian weight, often linked to conflict or natural disasters. It is an essential term for writers in the fields of global development, health and journalism to convey a sense of critical urgency.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

severe hunger

Uses a common synonym to emphasize the gravity of the situation without the technical nuance of 'acute'.

extreme hunger

Focuses on the intensity of the sensation or the depth of the deprivation.

intense hunger

Often used to describe a powerful physical sensation rather than a systemic crisis.

sharp hunger

Provides a more visceral and sensory description of the immediate feeling.

critical hunger

Highlights the life-threatening nature and the need for immediate intervention.

stark hunger

Used to illustrate the harsh and undeniable reality of food deprivation.

food scarcity

Shifts the focus from the individual experience to the lack of available resources.

severe undernutrition

Provides a more technical and biological term for the results of long-term hunger.

food insecurity

A broader policy term that encompasses the risk of hunger rather than the physical state itself.

extreme food deprivation

A descriptive phrase often used in clinical or legal contexts.

FAQs

How do I use "acute hunger" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe a crisis, such as: "The conflict has left millions of people facing "acute hunger" across the region."

What is the difference between "acute hunger" and "chronic hunger"?

While "acute hunger" refers to an immediate and severe lack of food (often due to sudden crises), "chronic hunger" describes a long-term, persistent inability to meet dietary energy requirements.

What can I say instead of "acute hunger"?

You can use alternatives like "severe hunger", "extreme hunger" or "intense hunger" depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is "acute hunger" a formal term?

Yes, it is widely used in formal and scientific contexts, especially in reports by organizations like the "Food and Agriculture Organization".