Basic Details
Word: Insatiable
Part of Speech: Adjective
Meaning: Impossible to satisfy; always wanting more of something.
Synonyms: unquenchable, greedy, voracious, endless
Antonyms: satisfied, content
Word origin: Comes from Latin insatiabilis, from in-, not, and satiare, to fill full.
How to Spell Insatiable
Syllables: in - sa - tia - ble
Tricky part: The t sounds like sh, so students write insaciable or insashiable. The ending is able.
Watch out for: insaciable, insashiable, insatiabel
Memory tip: Satiate means to fill someone up completely. Drop ate and add able: in + sati + able. The t says sh, as it does in nation.
Usage Examples
Example 1: The puppy has an insatiable hunger for biscuits.
Example 2: Her insatiable curiosity kept the science teacher busy.
Example 3: The king's insatiable greed for gold ruined his kingdom.
Fun Fact
The Latin root satis, meaning enough, also gives English satisfy and satisfaction, so insatiable describes something that never has enough.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Connection
Choose the word closest in meaning to insatiable as used in the sentence:
Arjun has an insatiable appetite for mystery novels and finishes a new one every two days.
a) timid
b) limited
c) occasional
d) voracious
Show answer
d) voracious. A reader who is never satisfied is a voracious one; limited and occasional say the reverse.
Word Cookie
Insert the correct letters to form a word:
insa_i_ble
a) t, e
b) s, a
c) c, a
d) t, a
Show answer
d) t, a. The sh sound is written t, as in satiate, and the ending is able.
Spell-o-Spell
Only one word in the list is spelt correctly. Choose the meaning of that word.
1. glutonous 2. ravanous 3. insatiable 4. extravegant
a) impossible to satisfy
b) extremely hungry
c) spending much more money than is sensible
d) eating far more than you need
Show answer
a) impossible to satisfy. Insatiable is correct; gluttonous doubles the t, ravenous has an e after the v and extravagant has an a after the v.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. A person with insatiable curiosity ____.
a) dislikes books
b) is never curious about anything
c) never stops wanting to learn more
d) asks only one question
Show answer
c) never stops wanting to learn more
2. Which is the best opposite of insatiable?
a) never full
b) easily satisfied
c) very greedy
d) always hungry
Show answer
b) easily satisfied
