1
as in craves
to have an earnest wish to own or enjoy
I want a new car so badly!
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in needs
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 wishes
to see fit
do what you want
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in likes
to wish to have
I want some ice cream for dessert, please
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of wants
Victoria Moorwood, Cincinnati Enquirer, 4 Oct. 2025
Everyone just wants to have empathy and comfort for our families that were impacted.
—John Wisely, Freep.com, 3 Oct. 2025
Carman is determined to keep expanding her work and wants every first responder to have access to a therapy dog.
—Kathleen Toner, CNN Money, 3 Oct. 2025
Everyone wants to know who, but so far, that’s a mystery.
—Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 3 Oct. 2025
Cramer wondered how the soda maker will react to an activist investor who has taken a big stake in the company and wants to make changes, noting that PepsiCo already faces issues as the popularity of GLP-1 weight loss drugs grows and consumers become more health conscious.
—Julie Coleman, CNBC, 3 Oct. 2025
For Cora and the entire coaching staff, that has to be a fundamental change between this season and next season if the organization wants to go deeper into the playoffs.
—Drew Vonscio, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025
Officials in several states as well as civil rights and other groups have questioned why Washington wants such data.
—David Lightman, Sacbee.com, 26 Sep. 2025
Everyone wants to dance with you.
—Lizz Schumer, PEOPLE, 26 Sep. 2025
Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 22 Sep. 2025
This means 50 percent of money goes toward needs (such as bills, housing, groceries); 30 percent toward wants (subscriptions, social life and vacations); and 20 percent toward savings.
—Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Sep. 2025
Records obtained by the Journal Sentinel show the two sides still appear far apart in their wants, according to contract offers submitted to a state arbitrator.
—Claudia Levens, jsonline.com, 5 Sep. 2025
Peacock and Benzing emphasized the study will fully take into account the wants and expectations of the region's local governments, its residents and other stakeholders.
—Arkansas Online, 28 Aug. 2025
Of course, regardless of when or whether these reforms happen, America also needs more of our current leaders to have the courage to focus on the needs of most voters rather than the wants of their political bases.
—Andrew Tisch, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2025
The acquisitions market remains in a funk as streamers ratchet down their wants, and motion picture distributors evaluate whether the investment in a movie justifies their energy.
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 17 Aug. 2025
Being more compassionate and respectful to the needs of your squad and family, instead of just asserting your wants, adds a new dimension to your connection with them.
—Lisa Stardust, Refinery29, 5 Aug. 2025
Verb
Cook wants the foundation to also benefit other neurodivergent kids, like those with ADHD or dyslexia.
—Victoria Moorwood, Cincinnati Enquirer, 4 Oct. 2025
Everyone just wants to have empathy and comfort for our families that were impacted.
—John Wisely, Freep.com, 3 Oct. 2025
Carman is determined to keep expanding her work and wants every first responder to have access to a therapy dog.
—Kathleen Toner, CNN Money, 3 Oct. 2025
Everyone wants to know who, but so far, that’s a mystery.
—Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 3 Oct. 2025
Cramer wondered how the soda maker will react to an activist investor who has taken a big stake in the company and wants to make changes, noting that PepsiCo already faces issues as the popularity of GLP-1 weight loss drugs grows and consumers become more health conscious.
—Julie Coleman, CNBC, 3 Oct. 2025
For Cora and the entire coaching staff, that has to be a fundamental change between this season and next season if the organization wants to go deeper into the playoffs.
—Drew Vonscio, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025
Officials in several states as well as civil rights and other groups have questioned why Washington wants such data.
—David Lightman, Sacbee.com, 26 Sep. 2025
Everyone wants to dance with you.
—Lizz Schumer, PEOPLE, 26 Sep. 2025
Noun
Themes of beauty and harmony are top of mind, and your home is mirroring your wants and needs.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 22 Sep. 2025
This means 50 percent of money goes toward needs (such as bills, housing, groceries); 30 percent toward wants (subscriptions, social life and vacations); and 20 percent toward savings.
—Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Sep. 2025
Records obtained by the Journal Sentinel show the two sides still appear far apart in their wants, according to contract offers submitted to a state arbitrator.
—Claudia Levens, jsonline.com, 5 Sep. 2025
Peacock and Benzing emphasized the study will fully take into account the wants and expectations of the region's local governments, its residents and other stakeholders.
—Arkansas Online, 28 Aug. 2025
Of course, regardless of when or whether these reforms happen, America also needs more of our current leaders to have the courage to focus on the needs of most voters rather than the wants of their political bases.
—Andrew Tisch, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2025
The acquisitions market remains in a funk as streamers ratchet down their wants, and motion picture distributors evaluate whether the investment in a movie justifies their energy.
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 17 Aug. 2025
Being more compassionate and respectful to the needs of your squad and family, instead of just asserting your wants, adds a new dimension to your connection with them.
—Lisa Stardust, Refinery29, 5 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wants
Verb
-
Is there any player that craves the spotlight more than Harper, and one that rises to the moment more than the two-time MVP?—
The Athletic MLB Staff,
New York Times,
30 Sep. 2025
-
Every Major League Baseball team craves depth, and on Thursday, the Atlanta Braves were able to snake some from a National League rival.—
Jackson Roberts,
MSNBC Newsweek,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Breslow suggested that the same aggressiveness needs to be present this winter to keep pace with the rest of the league.—
Jen McCaffrey,
New York Times,
7 Oct. 2025
-
Yet OpenAI still needs to solve critical problems that could delay the device’s launch, the FT reported.—
Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez,
Fortune,
7 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Best wishes for all your future endeavors!—
Christina Dugan Ramirez,
FOXNews.com,
1 Oct. 2025
-
If the biological father wishes to reconstruct his relationship with his biological son, most courts will support him in that desire.—
Jann Blackstone,
Boston Herald,
28 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The Flexjet chairman also likes to celebrate success with fine watches, similar to Tom Brady and Mark Zuckerberg.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
1 Oct. 2025
-
Even then, Joao Pedro is seen as more of a No 10 or someone who likes to drop deep as a centre-forward rather than solely concentrating on getting into the area.—
Simon Johnson,
New York Times,
1 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
This absence — of God, of love, of plain community spirit — is a metaphor for the whole parish, where everyone is defined by their own lacks and deficiencies, the weaknesses that cause Wicks to despise them and vow to bring down them all.—
Damon Wise,
Deadline,
6 Sep. 2025
-
But Davies’s film has a patience and lightness of touch that Scorsese’s lacks, as well as a note-perfect lead in Gillian Anderson.—
Elle Carroll,
Vulture,
11 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Though the Red Sox did shoot themselves in the foot with base-running, fielding and bunting failures in Game 2, thus costing them their shot at reaching the ALDS, Game 3 was a bit more representative of the Red Sox and their weaknesses.—
Michael Hurley,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Oct. 2025
-
The bottom line The Golden Knights have star power at the top of their roster and very few weaknesses throughout the rest of it.—
The Athletic NHL,
New York Times,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Lavrov said that Russia desires peace, despite Russia launching some of its most aggressive strikes against Ukraine in weeks on Thursday.—
Rebecca Schneid,
Time,
24 Aug. 2025
-
This sends a very important message that Western leaders cannot ignore - Russia does not want to end the war and not without getting everything that Putin desires.—
Dr. Ewelina U. Ochab,
Forbes.com,
18 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Undoubtedly, there are players with potential and talent at Tuchel’s disposal, but very little valuable experience in a position that requires more maturity and discipline.—
Rob Tanner,
New York Times,
7 Oct. 2025
-
Treatment usually requires a layered approach.—
Daryl Austin,
USA Today,
7 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Wants.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wants. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
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