1
as in wrong
falling short of a standard
we tried her cooking and found it to be very wanting
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in lacking
not coming up to an expected measure or meeting a particular need
at this time of year food for many wild animals is wanting
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in absent
not present or in evidence
grass is almost entirely wanting in that arid wasteland
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in craving
to have an earnest wish to own or enjoy
I want a new car so badly!
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in needing
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 wishing
to see fit
do what you want
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in liking
to wish to have
I want some ice cream for dessert, please
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of wanting
Susan Dominus Susan Dominus Photographs By Luis Alberto Rodriguez Styled By Charlotte Collet Nick Haramis Photographs By Lise Sarfati Styled By Suzanne Koller Sasha Weiss Photographs By Justin French Adam Bradley Photographs By D’angelo Lovell Williams Styled By Ian Bradley, New York Times, 13 Oct. 2022
Maybe our poor and wanting selves are our only authentic ones, and all others performances of convenience or necessity.
—Rafia Zakaria, The New Republic, 5 May 2022
Don’t let your husband convince you that being needy and wanting affection are the same thing.
—Annie Lane, oregonlive, 19 Nov. 2021
Lucero really has nowhere else to go but up after a subpar performance against a wanting pass defense and has the talent and poise to lead the offense in Tyler Johnston’s absence.
—Evan Dudley, al, 29 Oct. 2020
Brian Moylan, Vulture, 3 June 2026
Throughout the season, Idalski talked a lot about wanting Vancouver to be difficult to play against with a strong on-ice identity, much like his college team.
—Hailey Salvian, New York Times, 2 June 2026
In another case, senior finance manager Beth Arbuckle sued the bank in federal court in December 2024, claiming she was penalized for wanting to work from home in the Charlotte area for serious health reasons, including lupus and an eye disease.
—Chase Jordan
june 2, Charlotte Observer, 2 June 2026
Gourmands wanting to learn and taste local cuisine will love the Maldivian cooking classes which are held here.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 June 2026
The screaming headlines followed by the official oops that came in the wake of the announcement of the 1996 Mars rock is something scientists are justified in wanting to keep off their resumes.
—Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 1 June 2026
The other preparation that matters is connecting the negotiation to a personal goal that has nothing to do with wanting more money in the abstract.
—Kwame Christian Esq, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026
Parking is free and there is an elevator in back for those wanting to avoid the stairs.
—Elizabeth Marie Himchak, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 May 2026
One contentious issue under discussion is Iran’s $24 billion in frozen assets, with Tehran wanting half that amount released upon the signing of an agreement, the semi-official Tasnim news agency reported.
—Bloomberg News, Boston Herald, 26 May 2026
Adjective
Verdon demanded much of herself and of others, in her relationships, in her work, and Williams captured that hunger, along with the vulnerability that so much wanting lays bare.
—Susan Dominus Susan Dominus Photographs By Luis Alberto Rodriguez Styled By Charlotte Collet Nick Haramis Photographs By Lise Sarfati Styled By Suzanne Koller Sasha Weiss Photographs By Justin French Adam Bradley Photographs By D’angelo Lovell Williams Styled By Ian Bradley, New York Times, 13 Oct. 2022
Maybe our poor and wanting selves are our only authentic ones, and all others performances of convenience or necessity.
—Rafia Zakaria, The New Republic, 5 May 2022
Don’t let your husband convince you that being needy and wanting affection are the same thing.
—Annie Lane, oregonlive, 19 Nov. 2021
Lucero really has nowhere else to go but up after a subpar performance against a wanting pass defense and has the talent and poise to lead the offense in Tyler Johnston’s absence.
—Evan Dudley, al, 29 Oct. 2020
Verb
The past few seasons have all been about Amanda wanting to open up and find her own voice, but here her voice is once again getting lost in the roar of someone else.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 3 June 2026
Throughout the season, Idalski talked a lot about wanting Vancouver to be difficult to play against with a strong on-ice identity, much like his college team.
—Hailey Salvian, New York Times, 2 June 2026
In another case, senior finance manager Beth Arbuckle sued the bank in federal court in December 2024, claiming she was penalized for wanting to work from home in the Charlotte area for serious health reasons, including lupus and an eye disease.
—Chase Jordan
june 2, Charlotte Observer, 2 June 2026
Gourmands wanting to learn and taste local cuisine will love the Maldivian cooking classes which are held here.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 June 2026
The screaming headlines followed by the official oops that came in the wake of the announcement of the 1996 Mars rock is something scientists are justified in wanting to keep off their resumes.
—Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 1 June 2026
The other preparation that matters is connecting the negotiation to a personal goal that has nothing to do with wanting more money in the abstract.
—Kwame Christian Esq, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026
Parking is free and there is an elevator in back for those wanting to avoid the stairs.
—Elizabeth Marie Himchak, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 May 2026
One contentious issue under discussion is Iran’s $24 billion in frozen assets, with Tehran wanting half that amount released upon the signing of an agreement, the semi-official Tasnim news agency reported.
—Bloomberg News, Boston Herald, 26 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wanting
Adjective
-
Black and white, right and wrong, cut and dried.—
Erika Ettin,
Boston Herald,
31 May 2026
-
The Angels brought a one-run lead into the seventh inning, and then just about everything went wrong in a seven-run inning that sent them to an 8-5 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays.—
Jeff Fletcher,
Oc Register,
30 May 2026
Adjective
-
Maresca’s raw qualifications, however, are somewhat lacking.—
Graham Ruthven,
Forbes.com,
22 May 2026
-
Not just any type of bus, but a marshrutka—a crowded, rumbling, claustrophobic Soviet holdover minibus, solidly built with steel girding and equally lacking in shock absorbers and seat padding.—
Irene Zabytko
May 7,
Literary Hub,
7 May 2026
Adjective
-
Unlike last year, when advocacy groups on both sides staged more visible demonstrations, the off-track theatrics were largely absent.—
Marisa Ingemi,
Los Angeles Times,
31 May 2026
-
With several top names currently absent, Thekla has become a force at the top of the card and deserves her Wembley moment.—
Rob Wolkenbrod,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2026
Preposition
-
Nonstick pans are one of those kitchen tools most people use without thinking twice.—
Ryan Brennan
June 2,
Sacbee.com,
3 June 2026
-
Time without cell phones or screens is not seen as a restriction but an opportunity.—
Robb Report Studio,
Robb Report,
3 June 2026
Verb
-
People were craving the culture and art that had been suppressed during his oppressive reign.—
Althea Legaspi,
Rolling Stone,
27 May 2026
-
Iñaki Ereño, the chief executive of one of the world’s largest health care companies, told Fortune’s Orianna Rosa Royle in a recent exclusive interview that craving work-life balance is a red flag.—
Sydney Lake,
Fortune,
26 May 2026
Verb
-
The villa layout works great for families needing space.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
-
After needing five pitchers in a rout over Texas State earlier in the day just to reach the regional final out of the losers’ bracket, USC coach Andy Stankiewicz rode Johnson on Sunday night.—
Assistant Sports Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
1 June 2026
Verb
-
Thank you so much for putting pen to paper and wishing me well.—
Meredith Kile,
PEOPLE,
29 May 2026
-
Officials said that anyone wishing to report mosquitoes or breeding sources in Ventura County should call the mosquito complaint hotline at 805-658-4310.—
Dean Fioresi,
CBS News,
27 May 2026
Verb
-
They are born, sometimes, just from not liking each other.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
28 May 2026
-
One man’s modernity is, of course, another’s degradation, and, as dinner was served, the conversation turned to such recent innovations as ghost runners, pitch clocks, and robot umps, none of them to Murray’s liking.—
Ben McGrath,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Wanting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wanting. Accessed 3 Jun. 2026.
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