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
Bennett Conlin, Baltimore Sun, 16 Aug. 2025
Liz, who had been diagnosed with a rare sarcoma, desmoplastic small round cell tumor, captured the hearts of the Prince and Princess of Wales, who heard of her desire to undertake exciting photographic assignments in the last months of her life.
—Simon Perry, People.com, 16 Aug. 2025
Literary Hub, 15 Aug. 2025
For any such situation, a new business at Westfield Mission Valley is offering everything a slime craver might desire: slime making workshops, slime diplomas, slime birthday parties and slime cupcakes.
—Roxana Popescu, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for desire
Noun
Chief among them is the desire to be in the top 30 of the FedEx Cup standings after this weekend.
—Bennett Conlin, Baltimore Sun, 16 Aug. 2025
Liz, who had been diagnosed with a rare sarcoma, desmoplastic small round cell tumor, captured the hearts of the Prince and Princess of Wales, who heard of her desire to undertake exciting photographic assignments in the last months of her life.
—Simon Perry, People.com, 16 Aug. 2025
Verb
Sometimes this connection is conceptual, as if the artist desires to plug in to humanity itself.
—Literary Hub, 15 Aug. 2025
For any such situation, a new business at Westfield Mission Valley is offering everything a slime craver might desire: slime making workshops, slime diplomas, slime birthday parties and slime cupcakes.
—Roxana Popescu, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for desire
Recent Examples of Synonyms for desire
Noun
-
Channels the inner, bestial urges to release an unworldly howl that pushes back any nearby enemies.—
Oliver Brandt,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 Aug. 2025
-
Leaders stop feeling the urge to always be right or have the final word.—
Wilson Luna,
Forbes.com,
14 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Jones was keen to capitalize on the boundless passion Americans had at the college level, and introducing pep rallies was a big way to entrench fans into the world of the Cowboys.—
Barry Levitt,
Time,
19 Aug. 2025
-
Captain Joe touched the lives of many with his kindness, passion, and love for the water.—
David Goodhue
August 18,
Miami Herald,
19 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
There's got to be a better system that will see all these appeals through quicker.—
Amanda Lee Myers,
USA Today,
20 Aug. 2025
-
Despite those convictions, Daybell has filed an appeal in Arizona, arguing misconduct and judicial prejudice and is scheduled to appear virtually from Idaho while serving her life terms.—
Miguel Torres,
AZCentral.com,
19 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
With Dejan Kulusevski still recovering from knee surgery, Spurs desperately crave a playmaker and Eze fits the bill perfectly.—
David Ornstein,
New York Times,
17 Aug. 2025
-
As in the radio days, Studio 50 was the preferred venue for television performers who craved the contact high of a live audience, none more so than the star of The Jackie Gleason Show.—
Thomas Doherty,
HollywoodReporter,
15 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
None of the four Walworth County judges returned calls or emails seeking comment.—
John Diedrich,
jsonline.com,
22 Aug. 2025
-
This has been the central question of the season, and seeking answers has only made the truth seem further away, like an episode of Unsolved Mysteries.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
22 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Opper’s performance as Max, an android longing to be human, drew critical praise.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
15 Aug. 2025
-
With love, with longing, with righteous rage or shameful guilt, on a sacrificial pyre or in the eternal flames of hell: There are so many ways to burn.—
Jessica Kiang,
Variety,
14 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Among the new cast, Sui Wonders’s Ava is the most direct Julie James avatar: the brainy brunette with a haunted look in her eyes and an inexplicable, undying lust for her high-school boyfriend.—
Rachel Handler,
Vulture,
18 July 2025
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While the state of falling in love or lust is often predicated on those feelings being reciprocated by a partner, limerence is specifically based on uncertainty about the object of your affections (a.k.a.—
Emma Specter,
Vogue,
5 July 2025
Noun
-
After accepting Ball's plea, Baker advised him that he will be brought back for sentencing following completion of a presentence investigation report prepared by the U.S. probation office in Little Rock, a process which takes 60 to 90 days.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
25 Aug. 2025
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Rylie and Morgan gave their final pleas to stay in the house.—
David Wysong,
The Enquirer,
23 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Desire.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/desire. Accessed 27 Aug. 2025.
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