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
Callum McLennan, Variety, 7 Nov. 2025
Fans wanting to go to games will enter from Gate 2 on the north side of the football stadium and will go through security screenings there before entering the arena on the south side of the building.
—Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 7 Nov. 2025
Vande Kolk kept the conversation light and continued to engage, not wanting to scare off his quarry.
—Jamie Thompson, The Atlantic, 6 Nov. 2025
Ankur Jain, founder and CEO of Bilt, says the collaboration is especially exciting now, both with people wanting to save money during these uncertain economic times and as the holidays approach.
—Gillian Telling, PEOPLE, 6 Nov. 2025
Xpeng started releasing its driver-assist tech in major Chinese cities in early 2023, and the systems have rapidly become a must-have feature for Chinese companies wanting to survive in the highly competitive domestic market.
—Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 5 Nov. 2025
Complete with a massive convention center, renowned restaurants, and an ice cream shop, the hotel is ideal for business travelers and tourists wanting to remain close to all the action.
—Greyson Ferguson, Travel + Leisure, 5 Nov. 2025
However, Fugarino said the event and the effort is not exclusive to people of faith but is open to anyone wanting to work in support of social and racial justice in Kansas City.
—Mara Williams, Kansas City Star, 31 Oct. 2025
Everybody Scream came out of wanting to go deeper into magic and mysticism.
—Brittany Spanos, Rolling Stone, 31 Oct. 2025
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
Anyone wanting to argue the riches of European films need go no further than the new talents spotlighted at this year’s Seville European Film Festival which launched last year a Rampa section for first and second features and has added short films to its lineup in 2025.
—Callum McLennan, Variety, 7 Nov. 2025
Fans wanting to go to games will enter from Gate 2 on the north side of the football stadium and will go through security screenings there before entering the arena on the south side of the building.
—Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 7 Nov. 2025
Vande Kolk kept the conversation light and continued to engage, not wanting to scare off his quarry.
—Jamie Thompson, The Atlantic, 6 Nov. 2025
Ankur Jain, founder and CEO of Bilt, says the collaboration is especially exciting now, both with people wanting to save money during these uncertain economic times and as the holidays approach.
—Gillian Telling, PEOPLE, 6 Nov. 2025
Xpeng started releasing its driver-assist tech in major Chinese cities in early 2023, and the systems have rapidly become a must-have feature for Chinese companies wanting to survive in the highly competitive domestic market.
—Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 5 Nov. 2025
Complete with a massive convention center, renowned restaurants, and an ice cream shop, the hotel is ideal for business travelers and tourists wanting to remain close to all the action.
—Greyson Ferguson, Travel + Leisure, 5 Nov. 2025
However, Fugarino said the event and the effort is not exclusive to people of faith but is open to anyone wanting to work in support of social and racial justice in Kansas City.
—Mara Williams, Kansas City Star, 31 Oct. 2025
Everybody Scream came out of wanting to go deeper into magic and mysticism.
—Brittany Spanos, Rolling Stone, 31 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wanting
Adjective
-
As analysis, that’s not wrong, but where’s the sting of it inside this bizarre bonbon of a musical?—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
10 Nov. 2025
-
Despite his brilliance and intellect, he was prevented from having a full life by being born on the wrong side of Israel’s separation fence.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
But Wild coach John Hynes noted in training camp that Jiricek’s decision making in the heat of the battle in the defensive zone is sometimes lacking.—
Jess Myers,
Twin Cities,
27 Oct. 2025
-
And the flick, based on Hoover’s bestselling novel, lays it on thick alongside a lacking narrative and cringey dialogue.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
22 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The vote was 6-2 against Buchanan's reappointment, with two board members absent.—
Joseph Flaherty,
Arkansas Online,
8 Nov. 2025
-
Traditional holiday themes of generosity, salvation, and tradition are mostly absent here.—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
8 Nov. 2025
Preposition
-
For millions across China, especially those who watch the US from a fascinated digital distance, Chen became a one-man portal into the American presidency, without the clunky geopolitical baggage.—
Mike Valerio,
CNN Money,
8 Nov. 2025
-
Yet without a single footwork adjustment, Cherki trots up and nonchalantly whips a half-volley into the top corner.—
Jordan Campbell,
New York Times,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Isn’t that what many of us are craving from a vacation these days?—
Travel + Leisure,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Nov. 2025
-
His promise to protect immigrants through legal defense funding and sanctuary-style policies galvanized immigrant communities craving representation and security.—
Billal Rahman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
If an app asks for permissions that do not match its purpose, like a calculator wanting your location or a flashlight needing camera access, that is a major red flag.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
5 Nov. 2025
-
What Maliya didn’t know at the time was that Alex, 27, was only in the state for six months before needing to return to college to finish his degree.—
Jordan Greene,
PEOPLE,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Thanking guests for coming, wishing them a safe journey home, or announcing a final toast can encourage a natural exit.—
Elizabeth Fogarty,
Better Homes & Gardens,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Here the most enthusiastic customers often came not from primitive fossil capital but from fossil capital in general—companies not producing but consuming fossil fuels in the process of money-making and wishing, for whatever reason, to even them out with credits.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Khattar recalled first liking science in sixth grade when her grandmother, who had been a science teacher in India, showed her the diagram of a heart.—
Elizabeth Marie Himchak,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
4 Nov. 2025
-
Sixteen squirrels from 16 state parks competed for the title of Fat Squirrel Week Champ, with fans casting votes by liking and commenting on photos posted to each park’s Facebook page.—
Moná Thomas,
PEOPLE,
27 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Wanting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wanting. Accessed 14 Nov. 2025.
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