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

Now, Bowden, who works in local government in Melbourne, wants to recover her citizenship. — Julia Buckley, CNN Money, 4 Aug. 2026

Everyone wants to have the one idea the rest of the world doesn’t have. — Shakeia Taylor, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2026

Shelquist wants an order stating the rule of restitution would not apply, even if the 10th Circuit sides with the NCAA. — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 4 Aug. 2026

Engineering wants depth of features and thorough testing before release. — Nik Froehlich, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026

With Set of All Sets, the band wants to prove that the old machine runs hotter, louder, and messier than ever. — Arman Khan, Pitchfork, 4 Aug. 2026

Try adding a sliced jalapeño if your family wants even more of a kick. — Elizabeth Nelson, Southern Living, 4 Aug. 2026

Nicolas Aburm, creative director at New York label Area, wants specific information. — Cami Fateh, Vogue, 22 July 2026

Trump reportedly wants Infantino to be the next secretary-general of the United Nations, per the New York Post. — Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 22 July 2026

Noun

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

These are more than reasonable wants. — R. Eric Thomas, Chicago Tribune, 14 June 2026

Their thinly sketched roles only underscore the welcome presence of Nate’s three daughters, who — while individualized with distinct wants and needs — maintain a feminine alliance that gives the story its heart. — Natalia Winkelman, Variety, 27 May 2026

The price simply reflects the building’s capacity for satisfying human wants—with the latter as well as the former physical facts about the world. — Literary Hub, 13 May 2026

The fact that those dreary assessments have very little to do with the actual wants and needs of the vast majority of Californians — not to mention the state’s history of electing mostly dull and drab governors — should give their authors pause. — Los Angeles Times, 10 May 2026