Definition

1. Noun:
   • The act of causing someone to suffer or die from lack of food: The deliberate or enforced deprivation of food.
   • The state of suffering or dying from extreme hunger: A severe deficiency in caloric energy and nutrient intake over a prolonged period.

Usage and Examples

• Noun:
  • The act of depriving of food:

    • The starvation of the civilian population was used as a weapon of war.
    • The charity works to prevent the starvation of vulnerable communities during famines.
  • The state of extreme hunger:

    • Many animals faced starvation during the harsh winter.
    • The survivors were found in a state of severe starvation.

Advanced Usage and Notes

• "Starvation diet": A diet that is severely lacking in calories or nutrients, often used metaphorically.
  • The prisoner was kept on a starvation diet.
• "Starvation wages": Wages that are so low they are barely enough to survive on.
  • The workers protested against the payment of starvation wages.
• The term often implies a severe, life-threatening condition, not just temporary hunger.

Variants and Related Words

• Starve (verb): To suffer or die from extreme hunger; to deprive of food.
  • Without rain, the crops will fail and people may starve.
• Starving (adjective): Suffering from extreme hunger (can be used informally to mean "very hungry").
  • The starving children were given emergency aid.

Synonyms

• Famine: Extreme scarcity of food, affecting a large population.
• Malnutrition: Lack of proper nutrition, which can be caused by not having enough food or not eating the right things.
• Hunger: A feeling of discomfort or weakness caused by lack of food, coupled with the desire to eat (less severe than starvation).

Antonyms

• Nourishment: The food or other substances necessary for growth, health, and good condition.
• Plenty: A situation where food and other necessities are available in large quantities.
• Feast: A large and elaborate meal.

Idioms and Phrases

• "Starvation mode": (Biology/Metabolism) A state in which the body conserves energy by slowing down metabolism due to prolonged low caloric intake.
  • Crash diets can put your body into starvation mode, making it harder to lose weight.
• "Starvation tactic": A strategy of forcing surrender or compliance by cutting off essential supplies, especially food.
  • The army employed a starvation tactic during the siege.

Noun

1. the act of depriving of food or subjecting to famine
   • the besiegers used starvation to induce surrender
   • they were charged with the starvation of children in their care
2. a state of extreme hunger resulting from lack of essential nutrients over a prolonged period