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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in poverty
the state of lacking sufficient money or material possessions
grew up in extreme want
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of want
Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 9 Nov. 2025
Now, the barn has become extremely popular with animal lovers who want to spend a night with the 12-year-old miniature Shetland pony.
—Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 9 Nov. 2025
Miami Herald, 30 Oct. 2025
There are many platforms to choose from, depending on the needs and specific wants of each organization.
—Jason Phillips, AZCentral.com, 27 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for want
Verb
Tyreek Hill wants to return to the Dolphins, per his agent, but that must be sorted out.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 9 Nov. 2025
Now, the barn has become extremely popular with animal lovers who want to spend a night with the 12-year-old miniature Shetland pony.
—Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 9 Nov. 2025
Noun
Would say Bills have the want/need edge here, except Chiefs don’t lead their division, either.
—Miami Herald, 30 Oct. 2025
There are many platforms to choose from, depending on the needs and specific wants of each organization.
—Jason Phillips, AZCentral.com, 27 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for want
Recent Examples of Synonyms for want
Verb
-
Sacramento State’s 6-foot-11, 270-pound senior craves the opportunity to devour defenders in the lane with post moves, or a pass to an open shooter after a double-team, or to thunder-dunk on the run as one regal finisher.—
Joe Davidson,
Sacbee.com,
8 Nov. 2025
-
For the wine lover craving a Napa experience without Napa’s price tag or crowds, Lodi offers the perfect alternative.—
Essence,
Essence,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Even as federal funding resumes, local colleges, businesses and nonprofits are joining county agencies in maintaining relief efforts for as long as Sacramento-area residents need them.—
Cathie Anderson,
Sacbee.com,
12 Nov. 2025
-
Gober said to establish gross negligence, the families will need to demonstrate that there was a conscious indifference to an extreme degree of risk of harm.—
Shambhavi Rimal,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
12 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
When things later calmed down, Mossack Fonseca did resign from some clients that wished to leave.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
7 Nov. 2025
-
According to a Washington Examiner poll of GOP lawmakers, 47% of Republican senators wish to keep the filibuster in place.—
Molly Parks,
The Washington Examiner,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
And when diners nearby half-turned their heads to check if the foreigner liked it, Chen saw my expression of delight.—
Mike Valerio,
CNN Money,
8 Nov. 2025
-
Did all the Luki members immediately like the idea of a film about or what was their reaction?—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
8 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Despite his lack of coaching experience at the MLB level, Vitello was named manager of the San Francisco Giants last month.—
Chantz Martin,
FOXNews.com,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Part of the reason why there are so few of these conversations about podcasting is a general lack of criticism for narrative audio.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
When staffing shortages occur, the FAA will reduce the flow of air traffic to maintain safety.—
Joe Edwards,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Flights are being delayed and cancelled across the country because of airport staffing shortages.—
Chantelle Lee,
Time,
5 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Generally, to be SNAP-eligible, a household's gross income cannot exceed 13% of the federal poverty level, according to a the 2020 report.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Nearly 20% of the population in industrialized cities lived in poverty at the time.—
Fahad Zuberi,
Time,
5 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
The editor of the Pine Bluff Commercial earned second place for commentary in a contest organized by America's Newspapers for his coverage of the failings of a city tax initiative that promised civic and economic restoration.—
Grant Lancaster,
Arkansas Online,
7 Nov. 2025
-
The new report only adds to a number of security failings exposed by the heist.—
Joseph Ataman,
CNN Money,
6 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Want.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/want. Accessed 15 Nov. 2025.
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