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
Maryam Ahmed, Bon Appetit Magazine, 22 Apr. 2026
This could be a model for other states wanting to boost rural development, support farmers and increase healthy food supply to people facing food insecurity.
—Rajiv J. Shah, Baltimore Sun, 21 Apr. 2026
And yet the audience has not stopped wanting originality.
—Seth Yudof, Rolling Stone, 21 Apr. 2026
Qalibaf on Tuesday accused the United States of wanting Iran to surrender.
—Munir Ahmed, Fortune, 21 Apr. 2026
That was eight in favor of open primaries and two wanting more discussion and three who didn’t speak.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 20 Apr. 2026
What Makes Black Throat Monitors Special For those wanting the specifics on Big Al’s species, black throat monitors are large reptiles native to East Africa, especially Tanzania, according to Oakland Zoo.
—Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 20 Apr. 2026
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
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
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
People talk about wanting authenticity, wanting discovery, wanting to support small producers, but then skip the wines that aren’t already on a majority of lists or highly rated.
—Maryam Ahmed, Bon Appetit Magazine, 22 Apr. 2026
This could be a model for other states wanting to boost rural development, support farmers and increase healthy food supply to people facing food insecurity.
—Rajiv J. Shah, Baltimore Sun, 21 Apr. 2026
And yet the audience has not stopped wanting originality.
—Seth Yudof, Rolling Stone, 21 Apr. 2026
Qalibaf on Tuesday accused the United States of wanting Iran to surrender.
—Munir Ahmed, Fortune, 21 Apr. 2026
That was eight in favor of open primaries and two wanting more discussion and three who didn’t speak.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 20 Apr. 2026
What Makes Black Throat Monitors Special For those wanting the specifics on Big Al’s species, black throat monitors are large reptiles native to East Africa, especially Tanzania, according to Oakland Zoo.
—Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 20 Apr. 2026
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
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
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
-
If your yard is a bit lacking in colorful birds, adding a feeder can help attract all sorts of them.—
Brittany VanDerBill,
Better Homes & Gardens,
14 Apr. 2026
-
But the upper frequencies are still slightly lacking.—
Mark Knapp,
PC Magazine,
30 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Cardoso and Williams were both absent from the first day of training camp while completing duties for their overseas teams.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
19 Apr. 2026
-
This entire conversation might have concluded two years ago if the voters whose support the Royals required hadn’t viewed the details as a combination of absent, confusing or shifting.—
Sam McDowell,
Kansas City Star,
17 Apr. 2026
Preposition
-
Limited production, self-distribution, and low visibility can all play a role, and without intentional effort to build demand and relationships, their wines can remain just as absent from local lists.—
Maryam Ahmed,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
22 Apr. 2026
-
The risk is moving too fast on a feeling without a plan.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
For vegan and vegetarian folks, craving juicy, tender tacos or a melt-in-your-mouth salmon sushi dish can feel agonizing.—
Sean Timberlake,
Sacbee.com,
22 Apr. 2026
-
They’re hooked and craving more.—
Cynthia Littleton,
Variety,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Spurs must somehow move on from the palpable devastation that left Kevin Danso on the floor, needing to be pulled up by his team-mates, and other players looking utterly crestfallen at the final whistle.—
Jack Pitt-Brooke,
New York Times,
20 Apr. 2026
-
Other signs that warrant seeing a doctor include blood in the stool or a persistent feeling of needing to go to the bathroom but being unable to go.—
Khloe Quill,
FOXNews.com,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Equity cannot mean handing someone a license and wishing them luck in a billion-dollar industry.—
Sonya M. Harper,
Chicago Tribune,
20 Apr. 2026
-
So here’s wishing Charley the best now and always!—
Assistant Sports Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
17 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 24 Apr. 2026.
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