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
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
Sezen June Sinan, the amazing photographer, reached out to me after my [Them] article came out initially, and this was in the mix of a bunch of other photographers wanting to take photos with me and everything.
—James Factora, Them., 30 Oct. 2025
But, yeah, part of [building Carol’s cul-de-sac] was not wanting to subject anyone else to that, [especially] any nice homeowner who would rent you their house.
—Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 30 Oct. 2025
So much of my experience was based on wanting to make the most truthful film possible.
—Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 30 Oct. 2025
Of course, this could all be posturing on the part of Miami, possibly not wanting to lose leverage in trade discussions.
—Matthew Schmidt, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2025
Governor Landry also pushed back on critics who said his involvement in this would deter coaches from wanting to coach the LSU football team.
—Luke Barr, ABC News, 30 Oct. 2025
Now, Kittle said, kids are growing up wanting to specifically play tight end and specializing much earlier.
—Jourdan Rodrigue, New York Times, 25 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
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
Sezen June Sinan, the amazing photographer, reached out to me after my [Them] article came out initially, and this was in the mix of a bunch of other photographers wanting to take photos with me and everything.
—James Factora, Them., 30 Oct. 2025
But, yeah, part of [building Carol’s cul-de-sac] was not wanting to subject anyone else to that, [especially] any nice homeowner who would rent you their house.
—Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 30 Oct. 2025
So much of my experience was based on wanting to make the most truthful film possible.
—Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 30 Oct. 2025
Of course, this could all be posturing on the part of Miami, possibly not wanting to lose leverage in trade discussions.
—Matthew Schmidt, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2025
Governor Landry also pushed back on critics who said his involvement in this would deter coaches from wanting to coach the LSU football team.
—Luke Barr, ABC News, 30 Oct. 2025
Now, Kittle said, kids are growing up wanting to specifically play tight end and specializing much earlier.
—Jourdan Rodrigue, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wanting
Adjective
-
While most plot details remain under wraps, The Hollywood Reporter previously revealed that one plot point centers on the son of Stiller and Polo’s characters, who gets engaged to a ball-busting woman who seems all wrong for him.—
Carly Thomas,
HollywoodReporter,
2 Nov. 2025
-
The right kiss will save them, but the wrong one will kill them.—
Brittany Johnson,
PEOPLE,
2 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
-
This creates an unchecked culture of humiliation, and makes the social media world for Gen Z a place where accountability is absent and cruelty is rewarded.—
Eli Thompson,
Rolling Stone,
25 Oct. 2025
-
In the video released by police the man is absent from the camera frame for much of the chase and he is not seen turning toward the officer or raising his gun.—
Violet Ikonomova,
Freep.com,
24 Oct. 2025
Preposition
-
This allowed Simon Rolfes and Fernando Carro, Leverkusen’s managing director for sport and chief executive, to make a quick appointment without the cost of another contract buyout.—
Sebastian Stafford-Bloor,
New York Times,
31 Oct. 2025
-
Following an inspection by ground crews, who are also working without pay, that same aircraft flew out later the same day on another mission into the storm, the NOAA staff member said.—
Andrew Freedman,
CNN Money,
31 Oct. 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
-
Please join me in wishing them the very best.—
Rick Porter,
HollywoodReporter,
30 Oct. 2025
-
For travelers wishing to support recovery efforts, these are some of the groups currently working on the ground to help the people and communities in areas affected by the storm.—
Terry Ward,
AFAR Media,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Before long, strangers are watching, liking, and commenting on a moment that was meant to be private.—
Eli Thompson,
Rolling Stone,
25 Oct. 2025
-
The Saints’ other wideout of interest, Chris Olave, would likely cost too high a draft pick for the Patriots’ liking.—
Andrew Callahan,
Boston Herald,
17 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Wanting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wanting. Accessed 7 Nov. 2025.
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