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
Noo Saro-Wiwa, The Dial, 24 Mar. 2026
How to get tickets For fans wanting to see Kesha this time around, some pre-sale seats became available Tuesday, March 24.
—Charlotte Observer, 24 Mar. 2026
In recent years, that has become especially evident in cryptocurrency markets, where interest in California has grown from simple participation towards wanting more complex financial strategies.
—Wyles Daniel, Sacbee.com, 24 Mar. 2026
Those wanting a refund can return the products for a full refund, including shipping.
—Saleen Martin, USA Today, 24 Mar. 2026
Green on Sunday recommended that those wanting to support impacted households donate to the Hawaii Community Foundation, which has activated its Stronger Hawaii Fund to deploy resources across all affected islands.
—ABC News, 23 Mar. 2026
Krystn Maher chuckles, not wanting to discourage them.
—Laylan Connelly, Oc Register, 23 Mar. 2026
That brings to mind a time when a series of near-miss Orioles teams found the wanting ingredient that finally jolted them to excellence.
—Raymond Daniel Burke, Baltimore Sun, 23 Mar. 2026
To Bernardi’s point, there’s a feeling of wanting more from scouts.
—Shreyas Laddha, Kansas City Star, 17 Mar. 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
The crocodile’s rare appearance represented a disheartening degradation but a hopeful sign of what the Niger Delta, if salvaged, can still become — an eco-diverse paradise akin to the Amazon or Costa Rica, that feeds its populace and attracts foreign visitors wanting to witness nature’s glory.
—Noo Saro-Wiwa, The Dial, 24 Mar. 2026
How to get tickets For fans wanting to see Kesha this time around, some pre-sale seats became available Tuesday, March 24.
—Charlotte Observer, 24 Mar. 2026
In recent years, that has become especially evident in cryptocurrency markets, where interest in California has grown from simple participation towards wanting more complex financial strategies.
—Wyles Daniel, Sacbee.com, 24 Mar. 2026
Those wanting a refund can return the products for a full refund, including shipping.
—Saleen Martin, USA Today, 24 Mar. 2026
Green on Sunday recommended that those wanting to support impacted households donate to the Hawaii Community Foundation, which has activated its Stronger Hawaii Fund to deploy resources across all affected islands.
—ABC News, 23 Mar. 2026
Krystn Maher chuckles, not wanting to discourage them.
—Laylan Connelly, Oc Register, 23 Mar. 2026
That brings to mind a time when a series of near-miss Orioles teams found the wanting ingredient that finally jolted them to excellence.
—Raymond Daniel Burke, Baltimore Sun, 23 Mar. 2026
To Bernardi’s point, there’s a feeling of wanting more from scouts.
—Shreyas Laddha, Kansas City Star, 17 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wanting
Adjective
-
As another election approaches, millions of Floridians can prove just how wrong DeSantis was.—
Steve Bousquet,
Sun Sentinel,
21 Mar. 2026
-
On isolated occasions a carp has been spotted on the wrong side of the electrical barrier.—
Dinah Voyles Pulver,
USA Today,
21 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
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
-
Financial vulnerability in Cook County has declined modestly since 2022, with fewer households reporting having less than a week of savings and fewer lacking confidence in reaching long-term goals.—
Jennifer Tescher,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
More than a third of screeners at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport were absent last week, forcing passengers to wait in security lines for up to two hours.—
Danya Gainor,
CNN Money,
22 Mar. 2026
-
But absent Rajner, the outcome might have been different.—
Anthony Man,
Sun Sentinel,
21 Mar. 2026
Preposition
-
The Congressional Progressive Caucus, which includes roughly 100 House Democrats, has formally opposed a reauthorization without changes to the program, marking its strongest stance yet against Section 702 and complicating the path forward for GOP leadership, according to the Hill.—
Kaelan Deese,
The Washington Examiner,
25 Mar. 2026
-
Travel disruptions deepened Tuesday as senators raced to salvage a proposal to end the Homeland Security shutdown by funding much of the department, including airport workers going without pay, but excluding immigration operations that have been core to the dispute.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
But are your emotions craving freedom and purpose?—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
25 Mar. 2026
-
Starfleet Academy left you craving more Trek?—
Chris McMullen,
Space.com,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Signs that may suggest swallowing difficulty include coughing or throat clearing during meals, needing extra time to chew food, or avoiding certain textures — especially dry or sticky foods.—
Sundeep Venkatesan,
The Conversation,
23 Mar. 2026
-
Adding census questions to their routines will just be one of several elements like the weather, traffic and the amount of letters or packages needing delivery that postal carriers calculate into their workloads each day, Renfroe said.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
23 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The sheriff’s office statement said events like this can be avoided for those wishing to seek help and assistance regarding domestic violence.—
Evy Lewis,
Chicago Tribune,
23 Mar. 2026
-
Those wishing to become an election worker are encouraged to apply early, though the registrar’s office will accept applications on a rolling basis, Presley said.—
Linh Tat,
Daily News,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The agents can also teach themselves how to perform new tasks and keep detailed notes about a user’s preferences, allowing the agents to mold themselves to users’ liking over time.—
Jared Perlo,
NBC news,
8 Mar. 2026
-
The textile strap can be adjusted to your exact liking on each foot, since the fabric is completely permeable.—
Anna Popp,
Travel + Leisure,
3 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Wanting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wanting. Accessed 27 Mar. 2026.
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