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
Charlie Lapastora, CBS News, 31 Mar. 2026
Lardis kept his head up, wanting his next Hawks arrival to be permanent.
—Kalen Lumpkins, Chicago Tribune, 31 Mar. 2026
Gen Zers are battling a sluggish entry-level job market, stagnating wages, and high cost-of-living while wanting to financially prepare for the future.
—Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 31 Mar. 2026
But Rioux doubled down on wanting to be at Florida and welcomed the challenge of playing against Alex Condon, Thomas Haugh, Rueben Chinyelu, and Micah Handlogten in practice and behind them in games.
—Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 31 Mar. 2026
Even before the trial began, Bouterse accused Santokhi of wanting to imprison and kill him.
—ABC News, 30 Mar. 2026
Fidel Castro, either wanting to protect his family’s privacy or maintain the mystique of a revolutionary who only had time for his country, never publicly disclosed the family.
—Patrick Oppmann, CNN Money, 30 Mar. 2026
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
Platforms are Learning Environments For individuals wanting to move beyond abstract learning, engaging with crypto platforms is the natural next step.
—Wyles Daniel, Sacbee.com, 24 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 difference of opinion came with regard to the renaming and not wanting to erase history or Chavez's legacy within the farmworkers movement.
—Charlie Lapastora, CBS News, 31 Mar. 2026
Lardis kept his head up, wanting his next Hawks arrival to be permanent.
—Kalen Lumpkins, Chicago Tribune, 31 Mar. 2026
Gen Zers are battling a sluggish entry-level job market, stagnating wages, and high cost-of-living while wanting to financially prepare for the future.
—Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 31 Mar. 2026
But Rioux doubled down on wanting to be at Florida and welcomed the challenge of playing against Alex Condon, Thomas Haugh, Rueben Chinyelu, and Micah Handlogten in practice and behind them in games.
—Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 31 Mar. 2026
Even before the trial began, Bouterse accused Santokhi of wanting to imprison and kill him.
—ABC News, 30 Mar. 2026
Fidel Castro, either wanting to protect his family’s privacy or maintain the mystique of a revolutionary who only had time for his country, never publicly disclosed the family.
—Patrick Oppmann, CNN Money, 30 Mar. 2026
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
Platforms are Learning Environments For individuals wanting to move beyond abstract learning, engaging with crypto platforms is the natural next step.
—Wyles Daniel, Sacbee.com, 24 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wanting
Adjective
-
If that doesn't open your eyes in law enforcement, something's wrong with you.—
Lauren Clark,
CBS News,
29 Mar. 2026
-
Both assumptions are increasingly wrong.—
Brian Barlow,
Fortune,
28 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
But the upper frequencies are still slightly lacking.—
Mark Knapp,
PC Magazine,
30 Mar. 2026
-
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
Adjective
-
In a new documentary, the band revealed that Jin is absent from the songwriting credits on the record because of prior tour obligations that kept him from the bulk of their writing sessions.—
Larisha Paul,
Rolling Stone,
29 Mar. 2026
-
The committee, which has one vacant seat, failed to support a recommendation that the county approve the new lease on a 3-3 vote with two members absent, said Chair Cliff Kaiser.—
Phil Diehl,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
29 Mar. 2026
Preposition
-
But state lawmakers estimate a quarter to half of current enrollees — as many as 40,000 people — would be thrown off the Medicaid expansion under the requirements in House Bill 913 and forced to find coverage another way, or go without.—
Kevin Fixler,
Idaho Statesman,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Matches without goals triggered texts to Garden requesting immediate Wyscout Zoom sessions.—
Megan Feringa,
New York Times,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Season 2, the show's final season, likely won't arrive till 2027, which may leave you craving your next Trek fix.—
Chris McMullen,
Space.com,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Long train rides and other slow travel between places offer exactly the meditative in-between space your nervous system is craving.—
Kirah Tabourn,
Condé Nast Traveler,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Edwards went in needing to play in every remaining Wolves game to meet the NBA's 65-game minimum for eligibility for all-NBA consideration.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Traoré led the Nets with 17 points and six assists, controlling the game without needing to overcomplicate it.—
C.J. Holmes,
New York Daily News,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Amazon customers wishing to make a return start the process online.—
Chad Murphy,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
26 Mar. 2026
-
For voters wishing to participate in the special election, the last day to register is Monday, April 20, 2026.—
CBS News Atlanta Staff,
CBS News,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
And the robot companies’ success hinges in part on people liking the robots.—
Rachyl Jones,
semafor.com,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Yet somehow, in spite of themselves, everyone kind of winds up liking him.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
31 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Wanting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wanting. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
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