as in must
formal
something that is needed or wanted
a list of political desiderata
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Recent Examples of desideratum
The Trump administration has sought nothing less than a reformulation of U.S. policy on the two-state solution, bringing it in line with Netanyahu’s desiderata
Among Netanyahu’s enablers, however, one partner stands out.
—
Aaron David Miller, Foreign Affairs, 30 June 2020
Some of the author costs are used to pay reviewers, causing one to question whether the process is always unbiased, as is the desideratum.
—Neuroskeptic, Discover Magazine, 4 Apr. 2015
Diversity isn’t necessarily an ethical desideratum in a collection.
—New York Times, 28 Sep. 2021
But there’s another overall desideratum: The system has to be straightforward enough to be managed easily — to get large numbers of people vaccinated as swiftly as possible.
—Kwame Anthony Appiah, New York Times, 23 Feb. 2021
Remaining at home is invariably the desideratum for most among the elderly, and this includes the wish to die at home.
—Joseph Epstein, WSJ, 17 Jan. 2020
We marketing teams came to believe we alone could save startups from untimely deaths by achieving the desideratum to end all desiderata: product/market fit.
—Wired, 22 Oct. 2019
Airports supply the greatest desideratum of physical retail: foot traffic.
—Daniel Gross, Slate Magazine, 7 Sep. 2017
Aaron David Miller, Foreign Affairs, 30 June 2020
Some of the author costs are used to pay reviewers, causing one to question whether the process is always unbiased, as is the desideratum.
—Neuroskeptic, Discover Magazine, 4 Apr. 2015
Diversity isn’t necessarily an ethical desideratum in a collection.
—New York Times, 28 Sep. 2021
But there’s another overall desideratum: The system has to be straightforward enough to be managed easily — to get large numbers of people vaccinated as swiftly as possible.
—Kwame Anthony Appiah, New York Times, 23 Feb. 2021
Remaining at home is invariably the desideratum for most among the elderly, and this includes the wish to die at home.
—Joseph Epstein, WSJ, 17 Jan. 2020
We marketing teams came to believe we alone could save startups from untimely deaths by achieving the desideratum to end all desiderata: product/market fit.
—Wired, 22 Oct. 2019
Airports supply the greatest desideratum of physical retail: foot traffic.
—Daniel Gross, Slate Magazine, 7 Sep. 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for desideratum
Noun
-
So a quick scan of the room and flipping a couple switches to make sure things are working is a must.—
Amber Love Bond,
Southern Living,
12 Aug. 2025
-
Since her daughter loves pink, incorporating the color was a must.—
Jordan Greene,
People.com,
11 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Lowering the 30% equity requirement, however, might take longer unless the world runs out of decabillionaires who want teams.—
Kurt Badenhausen,
Sportico.com,
13 Aug. 2025
-
Texas is the 29th state to adopt a financial literacy requirement, according to Next Gen Personal Finance, a nonprofit that offers free curriculum to schools nationwide.—
Tiffani Jackson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
13 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Exercising sound discretion while remaining faithful to the grantor’s wishes is a delicate balancing act that requires insight and judgment.—
Royce Ramey,
Forbes.com,
7 Aug. 2025
-
The Queen was granted a special wish and received prizes like a new washer-dryer.—
Marc Snegg,
Time,
7 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
If conditions are right, the clusters swirl into a storm known as a tropical wave or tropical depression.—
Julia Gomez,
USA Today,
18 Aug. 2025
-
The Southwest is experiencing one of its worst droughts on record, with drier-than-normal conditions since 1994.—
Hayleigh Evans,
AZCentral.com,
17 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Desideratum.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/desideratum. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.
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