1
as in to crave
to have an earnest wish to own or enjoy
I want a new car so badly!
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to need
to have as a requirement
that stray cat wants food and a clean place to sleep
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to wish
to see fit
do what you want
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in to like
to wish to have
I want some ice cream for dessert, please
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in lack
the fact or state of being absent
the proverb that begins, "for want of a nail, the shoe was lost"
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in shortage
a falling short of an essential or desirable amount or number
there's a notable want of teachers in that rural school district
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in need
a state of being without something necessary, desirable, or useful
those children are in want of some good discipline
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4
as in poverty
the state of lacking sufficient money or material possessions
grew up in extreme want
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in failing
a defect in character
she's well-meaning and kind, but her besetting want is a complete lack of tact
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of want
Emilia Otte, Hartford Courant, 12 Mar. 2026
For beginners, a cheap pickleball paddle may be sufficient to learn the basics may be adequate, while others hoping to compete in tournaments or play at a high level may want to consider choosing a higher-quality paddle.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 12 Mar. 2026
Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 23 Feb. 2026
Cosell, for want of a better word, could be icky, especially around young actresses.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 16 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for want
Verb
Laws can also provide support for parents who don’t want their daughters to go through it, Taher said.
—Emilia Otte, Hartford Courant, 12 Mar. 2026
For beginners, a cheap pickleball paddle may be sufficient to learn the basics may be adequate, while others hoping to compete in tournaments or play at a high level may want to consider choosing a higher-quality paddle.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 12 Mar. 2026
Noun
Their journey from a fractious dynamic and rocky road to fraternal camaraderie was rooted in the fact that Shawn grew up in poverty, facing constant adversity, while Jack grew up in a stable household without wants.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 23 Feb. 2026
Cosell, for want of a better word, could be icky, especially around young actresses.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 16 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for want
Recent Examples of Synonyms for want
Verb
-
Scott's Patton reveals the darker side of humanity that craves conflict, that lives for it.—
Devan Coggan,
Entertainment Weekly,
15 Mar. 2026
-
But Steve Vai and Joe Satriani continue to draw loyal audiences craving their deep, roller coaster-like dives into unbridled six-string virtuosity.—
George Varga,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
15 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Arkansas students don't need right-wing extremism taught in their classrooms.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
16 Mar. 2026
-
Unlike text or images used to train traditional artificial intelligence models, the data needed for humanoid robots cannot be sourced online; it must be generated through direct interaction with the machines.—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The pendulum of pension reform could be swinging toward more generous benefits over a decade after California overhauled its retirement system if lawmakers grant public safety unions’ wish to lower the age when police officers and firefighters can retire.—
William Melhado,
Sacbee.com,
10 Mar. 2026
-
The companies are offering refunds if guests of these bookings wish to cancel.—
Stephanie Breijo,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Rahman is a security software engineer and likes to study disinformation patterns.—
Ruby Cramer,
New Yorker,
12 Mar. 2026
-
Eleanor’s view Trump has never liked a loser.—
Eleanor Mueller,
semafor.com,
12 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Its only post office is in danger of closing due to lack of funding, and fliers are posted up on lamp posts asking for financial support from the community.—
Xuan Juliana Wang,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Mar. 2026
-
Lakewood police were heavily criticized for their handling of the investigation into Gratton’s death, including for using her deadname and for an overall lack of transparency about the investigation.—
The Denver Post,
Denver Post,
12 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Fuel shortages have forced authorities to impose rolling electricity outages across the country and limit some public services.—
Jarrett Renshaw,
USA Today,
16 Mar. 2026
-
The same sources also say the brand hasn't made significant profit from the phone, as costs remained high and kept rising amid the global memory shortage.—
James Peckham,
PC Magazine,
16 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
South Carolina applied in June for federal approval to extend Medicaid eligibility to nondisabled parents and caregivers ages 19 to 64 who earn 67-100% of the federal poverty level.—
Daniel Chang,
Miami Herald,
9 Mar. 2026
-
These cuts contribute to deeper poverty, more crowded living situations and poor sanitation that create an ideal environment for the world’s deadliest disease, the Stanford researcher said.—
Chase Hunter,
Mercury News,
9 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Reporters here and across the nation routinely request public records to illuminate systemic failings, abuse and corruption across all levels of government.—
Katie Moore,
Kansas City Star,
12 Mar. 2026
-
The narrators have soft spots for various failings.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
12 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Want.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/want. Accessed 16 Mar. 2026.
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