What does satiated mean?
Satiated means completely satisfied or full, most often because one has eaten or drunk enough. The word carries a stronger sense than simply being content: a satiated person has reached the point of having no desire for more. It can also describe someone who has encountered so much of a particular activity, subject, or experience that further exposure no longer feels rewarding or interesting. In everyday conversation, “full” and “satisfied” are usually more natural, while “satiated” is somewhat literary or formal. Its interesting history connects it to Latin satiare, meaning “to satisfy” or “fill,” and to related English words such as satisfy, satiety, and saturate.
adjectiveFully satisfied, especially after eating or drinking enough; consequently, feeling as though one has had more than enough of something.
- Feeling fully satisfied after eating or drinking
- Having had so much of something that one no longer wants more
"After three large meals, even the richest dessert left him feeling satiated."
"The guests were satiated after the elaborate feast."
"After weeks of repetitive tasks, he felt completely satiated with the project."
Satiated comes from the same Latin root as satisfy: once you are satiated, satisfaction is not just achieved—it is complete.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does satiated come from?
Satiated comes from Latin satiatus, the past participle of satiare, “to satisfy” or “make full.” The word entered English during the 16th century in the sense of “filled or satisfied,” and its modern associations with eating and drinking developed from that original meaning. Its relatives include satisfy, satiety, and saturate, all sharing the Latin root associated with being filled or sated.
Related word forms
How satiated is actually used
Satiated is formal and often suggests a particularly strong or complete state of satisfaction. In modern usage, it can also describe emotional or intellectual exhaustion caused by excess.
Easily confused with satiated
Satisfied means that one's needs or expectations have been met, whereas satiated usually implies being made completely full, often beyond the point of wanting more.
Sated and satiated are closely related in meaning, but satiated is more formal and can also convey a sense of having reached an excessive or uninteresting level of fullness.