1
as in urge
a strong wish for something
a desire for adventure and excitement prompted him to travel to Africa
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in passion
sexual appetite
ads for drugs that increase desire
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in appeal
an earnest request
at the delegate's desire, the voice vote on the controversial measure was followed by an actual roll call
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in to crave
to have an earnest wish to own or enjoy
he greatly desired a new mountain bike for his next birthday
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to seek
to make a request for
the host desires a response to the dinner invitation by tomorrow
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of desire
David Kamp, New Yorker, 4 Oct. 2025
Gein reportedly told investigators the desire to kill and keep human flesh was driven by his deep connection with his mother, and a desire to become more like a woman, by wearing their skin.
—Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 4 Oct. 2025
David Aldridge, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
With dipping enrollment, lower-than-desired daily class attendance and growing overhead costs, West Contra Costa Unified School District leadership has regularly noted that struggling finances have forced officials to make challenging cuts to prevent a county or state takeover.
—Sierra Lopez, Mercury News, 29 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for desire
Noun
My then teen-age mother, whose birth nose looked not unlike her father’s, hadn’t even expressed a desire to have work done.
—David Kamp, New Yorker, 4 Oct. 2025
Gein reportedly told investigators the desire to kill and keep human flesh was driven by his deep connection with his mother, and a desire to become more like a woman, by wearing their skin.
—Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 4 Oct. 2025
Verb
Given Washington’s offseason moves, a significantly better record than last season’s 18-64 is neither likely, nor desired.
—David Aldridge, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
With dipping enrollment, lower-than-desired daily class attendance and growing overhead costs, West Contra Costa Unified School District leadership has regularly noted that struggling finances have forced officials to make challenging cuts to prevent a county or state takeover.
—Sierra Lopez, Mercury News, 29 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for desire
Recent Examples of Synonyms for desire
Noun
-
LaForest felt the urge herself.—
John Wisely,
Freep.com,
3 Oct. 2025
-
The architectural designers of its reading nooks surprised people who never imagined that an outerspace theme could spark an urge to read.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
2 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Mae raised Burnett’s mother, Louise Creighton, in San Antonio, Texas, but Louise—who had a passion for the cinema, and a severe beauty reminiscent of Joan Crawford’s—harbored dreams of moving to Hollywood to become a columnist on celebrity culture.—
Rachel Syme,
New Yorker,
29 Sep. 2025
-
Comey was, and is, doing what that NASA custodian was doing – serving his country with passion and pride.—
Billy Ray,
Deadline,
29 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
For a generation living in great uncertainty—from the GFC to COVID to cost-of-living pressures—Trump’s disruptive appeal offers both a protest and a sense of control.—
Kate Plummer,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Oct. 2025
-
So while the shutdown is set to disrupt a wide range of federal programs, the SSA will continue holding appointments for benefit applications, considering appeals requests, and issuing original and replacement Social Security cards, among other services.—
Solcyré Burga,
Time,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Forced to become a bloodsucker as part of Bill's punishment for vanquishing another, Deborah Ann Woll's Jessica struggles with her new, flesh-craving lifestyle.—
Matt Cabral,
Entertainment Weekly,
4 Oct. 2025
-
The film benefits from its avoidance of a too-tidy, sentimental outcome, even if some in the audience might be left craving one.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The Red Clay Strays aren’t seeking to be spiritual leaders, Coleman told fans during the segment.—
Brian McCollum,
Freep.com,
5 Oct. 2025
-
If trapped by moving water, seek the highest possible point and contact emergency services by calling 911.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
5 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Casper floated into theaters in May 1995, charming viewers with its story about a friendly ghost longing for a friend.—
Allison DeGrushe,
Entertainment Weekly,
4 Oct. 2025
-
This must’ve been a dream for someone whose personal style—if not his work—betrays the longing of a hippie born too late (in 1967), and in the wrong place to have been part of the vanguard of the first peace and love trippers.—
Sarah Mower,
Vogue,
3 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
There's so much joy and this entrepreneurial spirit and kind of lust.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
21 Sep. 2025
-
True to his reputation as a naturalist, Shakespeare had transcribed a duet of love and partnership between two owls as part of a song of lust and merriment.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
19 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Morris, 64, entered guilty pleas to five felony counts of lewd or indecent acts to a child in an Osage County courtroom.—
Nolan Clay,
USA Today,
3 Oct. 2025
-
Two administrators from a closed Waukesha day care entered pleas on reduced misdemeanor charges for failing to report child abuse.—
Jim Riccioli,
jsonline.com,
2 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Desire.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/desire. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.
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