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

No one, for example, who wants hair like a politician’s wife—think Nancy Reagan blonde—is allowed in. — Vanessa Friedman, Vogue, 1 Sep. 2026

And secondly, these stories are resonating with younger audiences, a demographic Hollywood desperately wants to reach. — Samantha Masunaga, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2026

In true Joycean fashion, Ironweed wants both symbolism and naturalism, the elevated language of heaven’s vaults alongside the unadorned details of bodily filth. — Cynthia Zarin, Harpers Magazine, 1 Sep. 2026

Rock wants to pursue a career in music upon graduation and is already anticipating the next Train tour. — Devon Ivie, Vulture, 1 Sep. 2026

Raven-Flint wants to eliminate elemental fluorine The more unusual part of the company’s approach is its Corvus Route, a proprietary uranium conversion process designed to eliminate elemental fluorine gas from the production chain. — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 1 Sep. 2026

Garden Homes wants to build at 30 Parade Hill Road, a small property a little less than a mile north of the town’s commercial center and a bit more than a mile south of the New Canaan Country Club. — Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 25 Aug. 2026

For all the emotion and angst around the Tigers, Hinch wants his players to stay locked in on the micro. — Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026

Delta’s president, Peter Carter, told CNBC in June that the airline wants to fight United’s dominance, especially for trans-Pacific flights. — Leslie Josephs, CNBC, 25 Aug. 2026

Noun

Tenderness is often reserved for moments of isolation when the characters are reflecting on their trysts or their wants; rarely is that articulated between two people. — Tembe Denton-Hurst, Vulture, 4 Sep. 2026

Balancing the wants and needs of these more demanding users has been a challenge that BYOK founder Nick Sjolinder has been trying to figure out how to tackle. — Terrence O'Brien, The Verge, 29 Aug. 2026

Another popular option is the 50/20/30 method, which entails allocating 50% of your income to your needs, 20% to your savings and 30% to your wants. — Mallika Mitra, Sacbee.com, 24 Aug. 2026

Favorite Features By designing her own kitchen, Marinelli was able to customize it to her cooking needs and aesthetic wants. — Jenny Hughes, The Spruce, 13 Aug. 2026

Men sharing their experiences, their foibles, their missteps, their wants, their aches, and a lot of humor with it. — Martha Ross, Mercury News, 10 Aug. 2026

Key topics include creating effective budgets by distinguishing needs from wants, building emergency funds of 3-6 months' expenses, and choosing debt repayment strategies like snowball or avalanche. — Allbusiness, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026

All of this helps customers know their Leftover Money number, which is the amount that customers can safely spend on wants while still meeting their main financial obligations. — Catherine Collins, USA Today, 10 July 2026

Powell had flown to Paris and met with Coffin at Illumination’s offices, heard his wants and needs, spotted the movie, then started to write. — Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 26 June 2026