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

Pretoria wants American investors to build smelters, factories, and processing facilities in South Africa, rather than relying principally on conventional offtake agreements with local mines. — Alexis Akwagyiram, semafor.com, 21 Sep. 2026

Someone may want quiet while someone else wants action, or a minor household issue could become strangely emotional. — Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 20 Sep. 2026

Both need a robust GOP turnout to win in November and neither wants to risk alienating too many within the party’s xenophobic, anti-immigrant wing. — Los Angeles Times, 20 Sep. 2026

And yet Trump wants to turn the White House and an outpost on the Potomac into similar citadels, with little regard for why America’s capital city was named for one of its greatest examples of unadorned republican virtue. — Tom Nichols, The Atlantic, 20 Sep. 2026

The Kremlin wants the parliamentary election — the first since the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 — to showcase popular support for the war and legitimize its action. — ABC News, 20 Sep. 2026

If Harry wants those relationships for his children, rebuilding trust with William becomes increasingly important. — Stephanie Nolasco , Ashley Papa, FOXNews.com, 20 Sep. 2026

Where the Tea Party was demanding a right-wing agenda for the nation, the DSA wants to dismantle America and rebuild it as a workers' utopia. — Nolan Finley The Detroit News, Arkansas Online, 9 Sep. 2026

If Scherzer wants to come back, the Jays probably won’t say no. — Mitch Bannon, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026

Noun

First there’s Iya Segi (Iyabo Ojo), the authority in the house, to whom everyone except the patriarch must bow; the other women must seek her approval for their wants and needs. — Murtada Elfadl, Variety, 16 Sep. 2026

From the dark of an empty movie theater, or over clips of favorite movies, Pearson speaks of seeing his own wants or challenges reflected in characters like Buzz Lightyear or Forrest Gump or Elle Woods. — Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 10 Sep. 2026

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

Under the 50-30-20 rule, 30% of after-tax income goes toward wants, which can include travel. — Bydavid Schepp, Encyclopedia Britannica, 3 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