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
Paul Taylor, New York Times, 10 Jan. 2026
Instead of looking for rising high school stars such as Hill to fill their lineups, college coaches are dipping into the portal to fill instant needs, which can have consequences for high school seniors wanting to play on the next level, Woods said.
—Rick Cantu, Austin American Statesman, 10 Jan. 2026
Progressives dominate Democrats’ primary electorate, party activist roles, and have been vocal about wanting to use their influence to move the entire party further left.
—Douglas Schoen, Oc Register, 9 Jan. 2026
Those wanting to watch or stream the Golden Globes can find details below.
—Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 9 Jan. 2026
Last spring, Realtor Teresa Fuller saw signs that the epic task of rebuilding Altadena could be a local affair, with potential buyers wanting to place a bet on the community’s future.
—Terry Castleman, Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2026
Shepard, who is also dad to 12-year-old daughter Lincoln with his wife Kristen Bell, said that when Delta first approached him about wanting to become a mom, he was focused on not appearing judgmental.
—Rachel McRady, PEOPLE, 8 Jan. 2026
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
There are more of us telling stories, more of us wanting to see our full selves on screen.
—Clayton Davis, Variety, 7 Nov. 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
But on the evidence of his seven Premier League appearances so far for Forest — six of which have been as a substitute — there is little prospect of City wanting to utilise that clause.
—Paul Taylor, New York Times, 10 Jan. 2026
Instead of looking for rising high school stars such as Hill to fill their lineups, college coaches are dipping into the portal to fill instant needs, which can have consequences for high school seniors wanting to play on the next level, Woods said.
—Rick Cantu, Austin American Statesman, 10 Jan. 2026
Progressives dominate Democrats’ primary electorate, party activist roles, and have been vocal about wanting to use their influence to move the entire party further left.
—Douglas Schoen, Oc Register, 9 Jan. 2026
Those wanting to watch or stream the Golden Globes can find details below.
—Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 9 Jan. 2026
Last spring, Realtor Teresa Fuller saw signs that the epic task of rebuilding Altadena could be a local affair, with potential buyers wanting to place a bet on the community’s future.
—Terry Castleman, Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2026
Shepard, who is also dad to 12-year-old daughter Lincoln with his wife Kristen Bell, said that when Delta first approached him about wanting to become a mom, he was focused on not appearing judgmental.
—Rachel McRady, PEOPLE, 8 Jan. 2026
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
There are more of us telling stories, more of us wanting to see our full selves on screen.
—Clayton Davis, Variety, 7 Nov. 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
-
Nothing undermines success like a lack of stability, and of course, a lacking quarterback.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
9 Jan. 2026
-
These are all signs of a lacking musclespan, whereas not noticing any difficulties in everyday tasks suggests a stronger trajectory.—
Erica Sloan,
SELF,
11 Dec. 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
-
Today’s pairs are built for all conditions, designed to carry you through long days without blisters or fuss, while still looking effortless.—
Erica Paige,
Travel + Leisure,
11 Jan. 2026
-
That included training local activists to respond independently to moments that resonated in their community and hold protests without needing prompting from national groups.—
Michael Loria,
USA Today,
11 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Newsom has manifested this weird love-hate relationship with oil, craving it in the short-term to keep California running while vilifying its manufacturers as the architects of our climate change crisis.—
Tom Philp,
Mercury News,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Designers are craving excitement and color this season, manifesting this shift with maximalist bedding sporting punchy colors, big stripes, and winding patterns.—
Julia Harrison,
Architectural Digest,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
With contractors and staff needing housing, Hawkins has seen interest in apartments grow with the fabs.—
Darin Oswald,
Idaho Statesman,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Astrorinse has a 22-liter capacity for the station’s debris handling and can support up to two cleaning cycles per week for as long as two months without needing to empty or replace the disposable dust bag.—
IE Creative Studio,
Interesting Engineering,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
In January 2025, Lane posted a photo on Instagram of himself hugging Layla and wishing her a happy birthday.—
Jane LaCroix,
PEOPLE,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Davie’s successor will inherit an organization wrestling with its place in a media ecosystem dominated by overseas tech giants, as well as battling enemies closer to home, with conservative politicians and media proprietors wishing to see the BBC diminished during charter renewal.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
9 Jan. 2026
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 11 Jan. 2026.
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