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noun

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Synonym Chooser

How does the verb want differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of want are covet, crave, desire, and wish. While all these words mean "to have a longing for," want specifically suggests a felt need or lack.

wants to have a family

When is it sensible to use covet instead of want?

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

covets his rise to fame

When is crave a more appropriate choice than want?

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

craves sweets

When might desire be a better fit than want?

Although the words desire and want have much in common, desire stresses the strength of feeling and often implies strong intention or aim.

desires to start a new life

In what contexts can wish take the place of want?

The words wish and want can be used in similar contexts, but wish sometimes implies a general or transient longing especially for the unattainable.

wishes for permanent world peace

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of want
Verb
Attorneys want to meet for a charge conference by Wednesday, and closing arguments are expected on Thursday. Alexx Altman-Devilbiss, Baltimore Sun, 23 June 2025 And, despite depending solely on word-of-satisfied-mouths to promote the sauce, lots of people wanted it and want it still. Jennifer Stewart Kornegay, Southern Living, 23 June 2025
Noun
First, its research partner — the national nonprofit Urban Peace Institute — dispatches a team to canvass the community about its wants, fears, and needs. Paul Solotaroff, Rolling Stone, 11 May 2025 Margarita’s disability may, of course, impact and affect those wants and needs in slightly different ways (versus those of a neurotypical person), but the core of her experience is common. Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 10 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for want
Recent Examples of Synonyms for want
Verb
  • People crave connection, especially when everything feels automated.
    Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 18 June 2025
  • Louise Erdrich craved Marjorie Morningstar and reveled in James Welch’s Winter in the Blood.
    Donna Seaman June 18, Literary Hub, 18 June 2025
Verb
  • Key Player With two key absences at either end of the field, France will need players to step up in attack as well as defense to plug the holes left by the veterans.
    Neel Shelat, Forbes.com, 28 June 2025
  • The commissioners don’t want the unit value to decrease with the additional teams, so the networks need to ante up.
    Jon Wilner, Mercury News, 28 June 2025
Verb
  • The topic of banning phones at gigs has been a contentious one over the years, with artists wishing for fans to live in the moment, and fans desiring a chance to memorialize their concert experiences.
    Tyler Jenke, Billboard, 19 June 2025
  • In the meantime, wishing everyone a happy Juneteenth, aka Emancipation Day.
    KiMi Robinson, USA Today, 19 June 2025
Verb
  • The designs were situated over three floors, where guests were allowed to select a Levi’s item and customize it to [their] liking with graphics, rhinestones, and other embellishments.
    Essence, Essence, 29 June 2025
  • And every player likes to be in a good environment like that.
    Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, New York Times, 29 June 2025
Noun
  • A lot of people watch Fox or MSNBC or ABC to get their news, but as far as programming that’s reality-based or even scripted even, there’s a lack of quality content that’s produced well for that (conservative) audience.
    Peter Kiefer, HollywoodReporter, 18 June 2025
  • Last season, Al Hilal’s attack mustered 95 goals even as the team finished second, eight points behind Al Ittihad, but Asian Champions League glory has eluded them since 2021, casting a harsher light on their lack of elite individual quality.
    Liam Twomey, New York Times, 18 June 2025
Noun
  • There is a growing shortage of drivers, rising costs, and relentless demand for faster deliveries.
    Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 25 June 2025
  • To address the critical worker shortage, Massachusetts must prioritize benefits and training and improve pay for DSPs.
    Brian Cusack, Boston Herald, 25 June 2025
Noun
  • The researchers also compiled data on four key negative social conditions – corruption, inequality, poverty and violence – of 183 countries and all 50 US states, going back 20 years to see if there was a connection.
    Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 20 June 2025
  • Inequality is poverty’s foremost enemy, not statistics and Census figures.
    John Tamny, Forbes.com, 18 June 2025
Noun
  • But beneath that was a second failing: the Bears ranked 25th in PFF run-blocking grade from 11 personnel.
    Phil Rogers, Forbes.com, 27 June 2025
  • Peter Johnston, the BBC’s director of editorial complaints and reviews, is examining the failings that led to the film being broadcast.
    Jake Kanter, Deadline, 20 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Want.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/want. Accessed 2 Jul. 2025.

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