wish 1 of 3

Definition of wishnext
1
as in to impose
to offer (something fake, useless, or inferior) as genuine, useful, or valuable despite my protestations, the dreaded position of club secretary was wished on me

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2

wish

2 of 3

noun

wish (for)

3 of 3

verb (2)

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb wish differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of wish are covet, crave, desire, and want. While all these words mean "to have a longing for," wish sometimes implies a general or transient longing especially for the unattainable.

wishes for permanent world peace

When can covet be used instead of wish?

The meanings of covet and wish largely overlap; however, covet implies strong envious desire.

covets his rise to fame

In what contexts can crave take the place of wish?

While the synonyms crave and wish are close in meaning, crave stresses the force of physical appetite or emotional need.

craves sweets

When would desire be a good substitute for wish?

Although the words desire and wish have much in common, desire stresses the strength of feeling and often implies strong intention or aim.

desires to start a new life

Where would want be a reasonable alternative to wish?

The words want and wish can be used in similar contexts, but want specifically suggests a felt need or lack.

wants to have a family

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of wish
Verb
Intense heat in the South and West The West Coast might be wishing for rain. Kathryn Prociv, NBC news, 23 June 2026 The patriots are those who love America enough to wish to see her as a model for mankind. Ann Manov, Harpers Magazine, 23 June 2026
Noun
The Shiatsung Project In a bungalow surrounded by an impenetrable wall, a woman has been raised in isolation by a talking screen mounted on the living room wall, fullfilling her every wish without ever revealing the reasons for its life and existence. Kevin Giraud, Variety, 18 June 2026 Much to Bear’s astonishment, the wish comes true, but with unintended consequences as Nikki dangerously obsesses over him and resorts to deadly measures to prove her love for him. Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 18 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for wish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wish
Verb
  • Both countries impose severe penalties on LGBTQ people.
    Andrew Greif, NBC news, 26 June 2026
  • Starting on July 1, the California Department of Parks and Recreation can now impose new penalties on folks who fail to cancel their campsite reservations in a timely manner or fail to show for their reservation.
    Noe Padilla, USA Today, 25 June 2026
Verb
  • There’s some heartbreaking moments where Mary’s trying so hard to please him.
    Arushi Jacob, Variety, 25 June 2026
  • This is a solid all-rounder that will please most gamers.
    K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 24 June 2026
Noun
  • Furthermore, ElAttrache wrote a letter supporting McGregor’s request for a therapeutic use exemption from UFC drug policies.
    Los Angeles Times Staff, Los Angeles Times, 24 June 2026
  • Law enforcement made that request as part of their efforts to solve the case.
    John Miller, CNN Money, 24 June 2026
Verb
  • Yet meaningful change has been slow to materialize, souring views of Starmer’s premiership and inflicting heavy losses on the Labour Party in local government elections in May, which virtually sealed his fate.
    Hanna Ziady, CNN Money, 23 June 2026
  • Minnesota is among the states with a history of forcibly removing Indigenous children from their families and subjecting them to years in boarding schools that aimed to erase Native cultures, inflicting centuries of intergenerational trauma.
    WCCO Staff, CBS News, 23 June 2026
Verb
  • Your 10th House of Career wants focus as the Sun forms a quincunx with transformative Pluto in your 5th House of Creativity, testing balance between responsibility and joy.
    Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 26 June 2026
  • The complaint also identifies several defendants as having ties to the Christian Zheng Sheng Association, a Hong Kong charity whose founder, Jacob Lam Hay-sing, is wanted by Hong Kong police in an unrelated criminal investigation.
    Zachary Bynum, CBS News, 26 June 2026
Noun
  • Daphne Koller, Coursera co-founder, reflected on her early programming days with BASIC, driven by the intellectual beauty of mathematical models and a desire for real-world impact.
    John Werner, Forbes.com, 20 June 2026
  • These thin sheets of lead containing scratches of supernatural desires were used to sway a court case, target a rival, or even a lover, as per Archaeology News.
    Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 20 June 2026
Verb
  • Manhattan matchup The two super PAC networks have largely shied away from producing ads that mention AI and have mostly chosen to avoid competing against each other in the same races.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 21 June 2026
  • The comedian, 38, best known for his role as the acerbic gay best friend Elliott Goss in HBO’s Search Party, chose our meeting place to take advantage of the balmy late-May weather and to say goodbye to the neighborhood.
    CT Jones, Rolling Stone, 20 June 2026
Noun
  • Large drainage holes, however, are a must.
    Nadia Hassani, The Spruce, 24 June 2026
  • One exception is modern glass houses, which maximize views and are a must for all oceanfront builds, old or new.
    Rachel Corbett, Curbed, 24 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Wish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wish. Accessed 28 Jun. 2026.

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