wanting 1 of 3

adjective

ˈwän-tiŋ How to pronounce wanting (audio)
Definition of wantingnext
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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

wanting

2 of 3

preposition

as in without
not having a mitten wanting its mate

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wanting

3 of 3

verb

present participle of want
1
as in craving
to have an earnest wish to own or enjoy I want a new car so badly!

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in needing
to have as a requirement that stray cat wants food and a clean place to sleep

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in wishing
to see fit do what you want

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4
as in liking
to wish to have I want some ice cream for dessert, please

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of wanting
Adjective
Don’t let your husband convince you that being needy and wanting affection are the same thing. — Annie Lane, oregonlive, 19 Nov. 2021 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 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 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
Verb
After all, every great love story leaves us wanting one more chapter. — Devon Daniels, PEOPLE, 5 July 2026 Holden’s clinging to purity isn’t only about wanting to turn back time, though. — Lily Meyer, The Atlantic, 7 July 2026 Bikes are also available on loan for guests wanting to explore the area, and in-room maps help craft the perfect itinerary, though the front desk will happily share recommendations. — Maya Kachroo-Levine, Travel + Leisure, 7 July 2026 Those wanting to be steps from the town's pulse should look to Hôtel de Paris, which is just a two-minute walk from the harbor and steps from the postcard-worthy Chanel storefront. — Karli Poliziani, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 July 2026 Turkey, not wanting to go out without a fight, converted all of their three shots on target (from nine attempts) after failing to convert any of their previous 13 (from 62 attempts). — Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 5 July 2026 Despite his recent struggles, Soriano has been the subject of trade deadline speculation, with the Angels reportedly not wanting to move him and other young players. — Liana Handler, Los Angeles Times, 30 June 2026 Robinson is accused of sending text messages to his lover, Lance Twiggs, about wanting to retrieve the rifle, and law enforcement sources have said he is believed to have come face-to-face with an officer manning the perimeter nearby. — Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 6 July 2026 Analysts say many employees and job seekers feel somewhat stuck in the current market, with many people wanting to stay put because new opportunities are limited, writes Forbes’ Courtney Connley-Hampton. — Megan Poinski, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wanting
  1. wrong
  2. lacking
  3. absent
  4. without
  5. craving
  6. needing
  7. wishing
  8. liking
Adjective
  • Critics, and even some supporters, said Soto-Martínez was making his move at the wrong time.
    — Melissa Gomez, Los Angeles Times, 4 July 2026
  • That could always be wrong, of course, but at least that’s the garage talk heading into the weekend.
    — Jess Bryant, New York Times, 4 July 2026
Definition of wrong
Adjective
  • Shuffling the opposition across to make space for a switch to the far side is a viable method of attack, but that can then come at the cost of a central box presence, with Portugal lacking runners beyond the ball.
    — Mark Carey, New York Times, 2 July 2026
  • There is something to be found in both this character and the actress who plays her, but Alcock’s Kara did not have a chance to shine here in a lacking feature, and deserved better.
    — Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 27 June 2026
Definition of lacking
Adjective
  • Even when symptoms are absent, endometriosis can still cause damage, including scar tissue formation, pelvic adhesions and fertility problems.
    — Daryl Austin, USA Today, 7 July 2026
  • When interviewed by Entertainment Weekly earlier this year, showrunner Ryan Condal shied away from revealing the casting of the long-absent other child of Dowager-Queen Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke).
    — Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 6 July 2026
Definition of absent
Preposition
  • The firms most eager to deploy physical AI (logistics, retail, construction) are often precisely the ones without that safety-governance heritage, which is where the governance gap is widest.
    — Anjana Susarla, Forbes.com, 9 July 2026
  • Be vigilant about never leaving young children and pets in vehicles without supervision, especially during periods of intense heat, as car interiors can quickly become extremely hot.
    — NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 9 July 2026
Definition of without
Verb
  • From Mongolia’s vast Gobi Desert and China’s high-altitude wine country to India’s wildlife-rich heartland, these destinations offer the cultural depth, natural beauty and sense of exclusivity that seasoned travelers are increasingly craving.
    — Roger Sands, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026
  • For those craving something savory, try a hearty biscuit sandwich stacked with Southern staples like pimiento cheese and Neese’s Country Sausage, sourced from Greensboro.
    — Brennan Long, Southern Living, 7 July 2026
Definition of craving
Verb
  • Albin heads into his second season needing to put wins on the board in 2026.
    — Tom Layberger, Forbes.com, 6 July 2026
  • Marko Arnautovic’s early goal already seemed to throw a spanner in the works with both teams needing a draw to progress.
    — Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 5 July 2026
Definition of needing
Verb
  • The interview concluded with Oteri's Walters wishing the pair well.
    — Rance Collins, Entertainment Weekly, 4 July 2026
  • Any pub wishing to stay open for these hours must have applied for a temporary event notice at least five working days in advance, meaning that those which had not submitted such an applicated by Friday, June 26, are now no longer able to apply.
    — Ali Rampling, New York Times, 2 July 2026
Definition of wishing
Verb
  • Enter the giveaway on Krispy Krunchy Chicken’s official Facebook or Instagram by following the brand, liking a post, commenting and tagging a friend.
    — Mike Snider, USA Today, 5 July 2026
  • These premium earbuds combine some of the best active noise cancellation in the category with rich, detailed sound that can be customized to your liking through Sony's companion app.
    — Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 29 June 2026
Definition of liking

Browse Nearby Words

wanted
wanting
wanton
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Cite this Entry

“Wanting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wanting. Accessed 10 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on wanting

Nglish: Translation of wanting for Spanish Speakers

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