de·sir·able
di-ˈzī-rə-bəl 
1
: having pleasing qualities or properties : attractive
"Mr. Darcy, you must allow me to present this young lady to you as a very desirable partner."—
Jane Austen
Jane Austena house in a highly desirable location
2
: worth seeking or doing as advantageous, beneficial, or wise : advisable
desirable legislation
desirableness
noun
: a person or thing that merits or attracts favorable attention and consideration : one that is desirable
Synonyms
Examples of desirable in a Sentence
Adjective
The house is in a highly desirable location.
The new stove has many desirable features.
the qualities that make a desirable business partner
The experiment did not achieve a desirable result.
a beautiful and desirable woman
Recent Examples on the WebPreston Garrett, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Oct. 2024
But is Latino unity an attainable—or even a desirable—goal?
—Geraldo Cadava, The New Yorker, 9 Oct. 2024
Julia Mitchem, Architectural Digest, 4 Oct. 2024
Chollet’s approach is both provocative and intriguing: the fact that Obama’s strategy consists of a list of desirables rather than a hierarchy of goals is one of the main charges made by the president’s critics.
—Derek Chollet, Foreign Affairs, 10 Aug. 2016
See all Example Sentences for desirable 
Adjective
Compared with the aforementioned competitive film hubs, Los Angeles is not currently a desirable place to shoot – this is a fact.
—Preston Garrett, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Oct. 2024
But is Latino unity an attainable—or even a desirable—goal?
—Geraldo Cadava, The New Yorker, 9 Oct. 2024
Noun
Spend time laying out what is non-negotiable in terms of size, location, style, and function, then the desirables or nice-to-haves.
—Julia Mitchem, Architectural Digest, 4 Oct. 2024
Chollet’s approach is both provocative and intriguing: the fact that Obama’s strategy consists of a list of desirables rather than a hierarchy of goals is one of the main charges made by the president’s critics.
—Derek Chollet, Foreign Affairs, 10 Aug. 2016
See all Example Sentences for desirable
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'desirable.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near desirable
Cite this Entry
“Desirable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/desirable. Accessed 22 Oct. 2024.
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