Synonyms of desire

desire 1 of 2

noun

1

as in urge

a strong wish for something

a desire for adventure and excitement prompted him to travel to Africa

Synonyms & Similar Words

• urge
• longing
• craving
• thirst
• hunger
• passion
• appetite
• yearning
• lust
• wish
• taste
• compulsion
• drive
• itch
• need
• love
• zeal
• hankering
• yen
• thirstiness
• appetency
• impulse
• pining
• eagerness
• jones
• requirement
• will
• liking
• impatience
• necessity
• impulsion
• letch
• want
• weakness
• obsession
• greed
• avarice
• greediness
• cupidity
• acquisitiveness
• rapacity
• covetousness
• avidity
• mania
• avariciousness
• rapaciousness
• cacoëthes

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• hatred
• disgust
• dislike
• distaste
• nausea
• revulsion
• repulsion
• loathing
• aversion
• repugnance
• disinclination
• abhorrence
• allergy
• abomination
• indifference
• disfavor
• apathy
• averseness
• disliking
• unconcern
• nonchalance
• insouciance

2

as in passion

sexual appetite

ads for drugs that increase desire

Synonyms & Similar Words

• passion
• lust
• lustfulness
• eroticism
• itch
• concupiscence
• horniness
• salaciousness
• hots
• letch
• libido
• lech
• lustihood
• libidinousness
• heat
• ardor
• rut
• hypersexuality
• erotomania
• nymphomania
• lechery
• satyriasis
• lecherousness
• venery

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• abstinence
• chastity
• celibacy
• frigidity
• frigidness

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

• appeal
• plea
• prayer
• petition
• cry
• demand
• pleading
• suit
• solicitation
• application
• entreaty
• supplication
• call
• insistence
• suppliance
• adjuration
• conjuration
• requisition
• claim

desire

2 of 2

verb

di-ˈzī(-ə)r 

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

• crave
• want
• enjoy
• covet
• love
• wish (for)
• long (for)
• itch (for)
• pine (for)
• like
• die (for)
• lust (for or after)
• thirst (for)
• salivate (for)
• prefer
• hunger (for)
• sigh (for)
• yearn (for)
• pant (after)
• repine (for)
• yen (for)
• desiderate
• jones (for)
• hanker (for or after)
• ache (for)
• relish
• admire
• set one's heart on
• spoil (for)
• delight (in)
• fancy
• groove (on)
• adore
• revel (in)
• appreciate
• value
• favor
• treasure
• dig
• cherish
• prize

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• hate
• despise
• loathe
• detest
• abhor
• refuse
• reject
• decline
• abominate
• spurn
• execrate

2

as in to seek

to make a request for

the host desires a response to the dinner invitation by tomorrow

Synonyms & Similar Words

• seek
• request
• quest
• call (for)
• urge
• require
• sue (for)
• demand
• speak (for)
• plead (for)
• ask (for)
• wish (for)
• apply (for)
• solicit
• bespeak
• invite
• claim
• beg (for)
• invoke
• insist (on)
• importune
• exact
• press (for)
• clamor (for)
• enjoin
• petition (for)
• requisition

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb desire differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of desire are covet, crave, want, and wish. While all these words mean "to have a longing for," desire stresses the strength of feeling and often implies strong intention or aim.

desires to start a new life

Where would covet be a reasonable alternative to desire?

While the synonyms covet and desire are close in meaning, covet implies strong envious desire.

covets his rise to fame

When might crave be a better fit than desire?

In some situations, the words crave and desire are roughly equivalent. However, crave stresses the force of physical appetite or emotional need.

craves sweets

When could want be used to replace desire?

The synonyms want and desire are sometimes interchangeable, but want specifically suggests a felt need or lack.

wants to have a family

When is it sensible to use wish instead of desire?

The meanings of wish and desire largely overlap; however, wish sometimes implies a general or transient longing especially for the unattainable.

wishes for permanent world peace

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of desire

Noun

Trump has made little secret of his desire to tighten the screws. —Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 24 Jan. 2026

Tellingly, when thinking about Erika on his own, Elliot entertains more traditional desires, like getting married and starting a family. —Peter Debruge, Variety, 24 Jan. 2026

Verb

Repeat along your lower lash line as desired. —Kiana Murden, Vogue, 9 Jan. 2026

The Los Angeles Chargers are coming to town next weekend with their own impressive head coach-quarterback pairing, even if the rest of the roster leaves something to be desired. —Chad Graff, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026