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
Janelle Ash, FOXNews.com, 14 Apr. 2026
For those wanting more, La Cañita can arrange a picnic package for an afternoon on the sand.
—Regan Stephens, Travel + Leisure, 13 Apr. 2026
The problem is that these franchises are now living in an eternal nostalgia loop, with fans both wanting the past and constantly asking what is next.
—Matthew Razak, Space.com, 13 Apr. 2026
Those wanting to fly from Kansas City to Los Angeles now have another option to fly without a layover.
—Rashad Alexander, Kansas City Star, 13 Apr. 2026
Fans of the soda wanting to try Dr Pepper in other forms have been in luck this year.
—Erin Clements, PEOPLE, 13 Apr. 2026
But then his journey through Amen Corner might have left him wanting to say a few choice words.
—Doug Ferguson, Chicago Tribune, 12 Apr. 2026
What’s wrong with wanting a little attention, anyway?
—Chloé Versabeau, Vogue, 12 Apr. 2026
Who could blame a mere upper-middle class professional for wanting a small cut of her customer’s success?
—Alison Herman, Variety, 12 Apr. 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
Lena Dunham recalls her own father not wanting to be seen at the voting booths with her during the 2012 Barack Obama versus Mitt Romney election.
—Janelle Ash, FOXNews.com, 14 Apr. 2026
For those wanting more, La Cañita can arrange a picnic package for an afternoon on the sand.
—Regan Stephens, Travel + Leisure, 13 Apr. 2026
The problem is that these franchises are now living in an eternal nostalgia loop, with fans both wanting the past and constantly asking what is next.
—Matthew Razak, Space.com, 13 Apr. 2026
Those wanting to fly from Kansas City to Los Angeles now have another option to fly without a layover.
—Rashad Alexander, Kansas City Star, 13 Apr. 2026
Fans of the soda wanting to try Dr Pepper in other forms have been in luck this year.
—Erin Clements, PEOPLE, 13 Apr. 2026
But then his journey through Amen Corner might have left him wanting to say a few choice words.
—Doug Ferguson, Chicago Tribune, 12 Apr. 2026
What’s wrong with wanting a little attention, anyway?
—Chloé Versabeau, Vogue, 12 Apr. 2026
Who could blame a mere upper-middle class professional for wanting a small cut of her customer’s success?
—Alison Herman, Variety, 12 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wanting
Adjective
-
Now 43-38, Charlotte has lost ground this week with difficult losses to Boston and Detroit that followed the same blueprint, as the Hornets fell off a cliff in the fourth quarter at the wrong time.—
Scott Fowler,
Charlotte Observer,
11 Apr. 2026
-
Overfertilizing Fertilizing too much or at the wrong time could potentially damage plant roots, leading to leaf damage and eventual drop.—
Alexandra Jones,
The Spruce,
11 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
But the upper frequencies are still slightly lacking.—
Mark Knapp,
PC Magazine,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Loro Parque, a zoo on the island of Tenerife, offers a clean and safe environment, expert care and proper mental and social stimulation that Wikie and Keijo are desperately lacking.—
Valerie Greene,
The Orlando Sentinel,
14 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Trump was notably absent from this year's Super Bowl and the Winter Olympics in Italy and didn't attend any other events after the Iran war broke out.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
12 Apr. 2026
-
Additionally, recipients must live in one of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, or the Northern Mariana Islands, and must not be absent from the United States for a full calendar month or 30 consecutive days.—
Asher Notheis,
The Washington Examiner,
12 Apr. 2026
Preposition
-
The totals are incomplete because agencies like the FBI have found ways to access the data without reporting the searches publicly, said Elizabeth Goitein, senior director of the Liberty and National Security Program at the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
15 Apr. 2026
-
Oakland has approved a major change in how the city handles homeless encampments, voting Tuesday to adopt a new policy that gives officials more authority to remove RVs and vehicles from public spaces without offering an alternative.—
Kenny Choi,
CBS News,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
These recipes will satisfy a dinner crowd in a flash, no matter what everyone is craving.—
Amanda Favazza,
Southern Living,
15 Apr. 2026
-
With cobblestone streets, Spanish moss and 22 grand historic squares, this walkable Southern city makes an ideal destination for families craving something beyond the usual beach trip.—
Lauren Schuster,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
13 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Miami won the season series 3-1, resulting in Charlotte needing to finish one game ahead of the Heat to avoid having to win two outings on the road to reach the actual playoff field for the first time in a decade.—
Roderick Boone,
Charlotte Observer,
13 Apr. 2026
-
We’re spread too thin, needing to connect complex infrastructures of storytelling instead of engaging in-depth with a single tale.—
Matthew Razak,
Space.com,
13 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Those wishing to remain anonymous can call the We-Tip hotline at (844) 909-3006 or text REPORT to the same number.—
Matthew Rodriguez,
CBS News,
12 Apr. 2026
-
Those wishing to remain anonymous can call or text REPORT to We-Tip at 844-909-3006.—
Erin Clack,
PEOPLE,
12 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Henley has struggled on approach since the American Express, which is the only thing holding me back from really liking him this week.—
Dennis Esser,
New York Times,
12 Apr. 2026
-
At April’s First Thursday event, Proll came with her dog Oliver, which took a particular liking to UConn freshman Nalini Coipel.—
Mikayla Bunnell,
Hartford Courant,
11 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Wanting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wanting. Accessed 18 Apr. 2026.
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