Synonyms of wants

wants 1 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of want

1

as in craves

to have an earnest wish to own or enjoy

I want a new car so badly!

Synonyms & Similar Words

• craves
• desires
• enjoys
• loves
• prefers
• likes
• covets
• wishes (for)
• pants (after)
• dies (for)
• thirsts (for)
• lusts (for or after)
• yearns (for)
• sighs (for)
• itches (for)
• longs (for)
• hungers (for)
• hankers (for or after)
• pines (for)
• desiderates
• salivates (for)
• aches (for)
• admires
• relishes
• sets one's heart on
• joneses (for)
• yens (for)
• repines (for)
• adores
• spoils (for)
• fancies
• appreciates
• favors
• delights (in)
• grooves (on)
• revels (in)
• values
• cherishes
• digs
• treasures
• prizes

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• hates
• despises
• loathes
• abhors
• refuses
• detests
• rejects
• declines
• abominates
• spurns
• execrates

2

as in needs

to have as a requirement

that stray cat wants food and a clean place to sleep

Synonyms & Similar Words

• needs
• requires
• takes
• demands
• involves
• claims
• necessitates
• calls for
• challenges
• warrants
• asks
• entails
• begs
• bears
• insists
• lacks
• stipulates
• cries (for)
• hurts (for)
• enjoins
• clamors (for)
• presses
• exacts
• commands
• quests

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• has
• holds
• owns
• possesses

3

as in wishes

to see fit

do what you want

Synonyms & Similar Words

• wishes
• pleases
• chooses
• likes
• desires
• wills
• craves
• covets
• fancies
• pants (after)
• decides
• dies (for)
• yearns (for)
• sighs (for)
• itches (for)
• longs (for)
• hungers (for)
• aches (for)
• thirsts (for)
• resolves
• lusts (for or after)
• determines
• hankers (for)
• pines (for)
• repines (for)

4

as in likes

to wish to have

I want some ice cream for dessert, please

Synonyms & Similar Words

• likes
• enjoys
• loves
• feels like
• fancies
• welcomes
• relishes
• desires
• craves
• cares (for)
• delights (in)
• covets
• adores
• wishes (for)
• revels (in)
• dies (for)
• digs
• grooves (on)
• yearns (for)
• hankers (for or after)

wants

2 of 2

noun

plural of want

1

as in lacks

a falling short of an essential or desirable amount or number

there's a notable want of teachers in that rural school district

Synonyms & Similar Words

• lacks
• shortages
• deficiencies
• deficits
• inadequacies
• insufficiencies
• needs
• droughts
• absences
• scarcities
• lacunae
• crunches
• famines
• pinches
• failures
• undersupplies
• poverties
• paucities
• dearths
• necessities
• omissions
• privations

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• sufficiencies
• adequacies
• amplitudes
• plenties
• plenitudes
• abundances
• wealths
• surpluses
• excesses
• opulences
• surfeits
• oversupplies
• overabundances

2

as in weaknesses

a defect in character

she's well-meaning and kind, but her besetting want is a complete lack of tact

Synonyms & Similar Words

• weaknesses
• faults
• sins
• shortcomings
• failings
• deficiencies
• foibles
• feet of clay
• frailties
• demerits
• vices
• flaws
• derelictions
• evils
• imperfections
• soft spots
• stains
• spots
• blots
• blemishes
• minuses
• corruptions
• depravities
• nits
• immoralities
• Achilles' heels

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• merits
• virtues
• perfections
• excellences
• moralities
• rectitudes
• probities
• integrities

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of wants

Verb

Say that a presidential candidate wants to create universal prekindergarten, implement a comprehensive parental-leave policy, lower the Medicare-eligibility age, and invest in clean energy and cancer research. —Annie Lowrey, The Atlantic, 28 Apr. 2026

In the state’s email to Abruzzo seeking to know more about the reserves, Fennell didn’t specify why the state wants the information. —Abigail Hasebroock, Sun Sentinel, 28 Apr. 2026

All this taught me to understand the daily humiliations one experiences as an exile and refugee in a world where nobody wants you. —Literary Hub, 28 Apr. 2026

The agency wants to fly Artemis missions at least once per year. —Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 28 Apr. 2026

Those are some of the initiatives the Regional Transportation Authority wants to fund with $132 million in tax revenue for the CTA, Metra and Pace this year. —Talia Soglin, Chicago Tribune, 28 Apr. 2026

Now, McDonald’s wants to get in on the action. —Jordan Valinsky, CNN Money, 28 Apr. 2026

Not that anyone wants to think about the present day. —Naveen Kumar, Variety, 21 Apr. 2026

Giaever who, after being called selfish by her dad, decides to offer free help to anyone who wants it. —Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 21 Apr. 2026

Noun

Sometimes one’s own true wants are infernally difficult to bear. —Literary Hub, 21 Apr. 2026

Chesbrough thinks consumers are sometimes unrealistic in their wants. —Alexa St. John, Fortune, 12 Apr. 2026

Sagittarius November 22 – December 21 Your current spending should align with your needs more than your wants at this moment. —Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 10 Apr. 2026

November 22 – December 21 Your current spending should align with your needs more than your wants at this moment. —Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 10 Apr. 2026

Here, the benchmark is to spend a maximum of 50% of your income on essentials and financial obligations, like rent, and then 30% on wants, meaning discretionary spending. —Becca Stanek, TheWeek, 8 Apr. 2026

This rule is a common budgeting technique that states that 50% of your post-tax income goes to needs, 30% to your wants, and 20% gets set aside for the future. —Nick Jachim, The Hill, 28 Mar. 2026

That means 50% of a budget is spent on needs, 30% on wants and 20% on savings or debt payments. —Madeline Bartos, CBS News, 27 Mar. 2026

Their journey from a fractious dynamic and rocky road to fraternal camaraderie was rooted in the fact that Shawn grew up in poverty, facing constant adversity, while Jack grew up in a stable household without wants. —Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 23 Feb. 2026