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
Steven Walker, The Orlando Sentinel, 12 May 2026
Carrington wants others to understand the importance of childcare and that jobs like hers are valuable and worth protecting.
—Maya Wilkins, Chicago Tribune, 12 May 2026
Moving forward, the council wants staff to consider expanding its definition of data centers to account for the variance between facilities.
—Terry Roueche, Charlotte Observer, 12 May 2026
Letter writer appreciates friends’ support through family’s health struggles but also wants space to breathe.
—Carolyn Hax, Washington Post, 12 May 2026
New government wants to unblock frozen EU funds Magyar’s administration is expected to transform political dynamics within the European Union, where the former prime minister had upended the bloc by frequently vetoing key decisions, most recently concerning support for neighboring Ukraine.
—Justin Spike, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2026
The foul-mouthed teddy bear wants an Emmy.
—Clayton Davis, Variety, 12 May 2026
Sherman wants to know how much time the secretary — and government staff — spent on the project.
—Rachel Treisman, NPR, 12 May 2026
Understandably, Suzanne wants out.
—Ben Croll, IndieWire, 12 May 2026
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
But that conversation can’t be about your wants.
—Chicago Tribune, 7 May 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
Verb
In the video, Reinsel touted union benefits and said the DeSantis administration wants to tamp down the influence of those who push back against its policies.
—Steven Walker, The Orlando Sentinel, 12 May 2026
Carrington wants others to understand the importance of childcare and that jobs like hers are valuable and worth protecting.
—Maya Wilkins, Chicago Tribune, 12 May 2026
Moving forward, the council wants staff to consider expanding its definition of data centers to account for the variance between facilities.
—Terry Roueche, Charlotte Observer, 12 May 2026
Letter writer appreciates friends’ support through family’s health struggles but also wants space to breathe.
—Carolyn Hax, Washington Post, 12 May 2026
New government wants to unblock frozen EU funds Magyar’s administration is expected to transform political dynamics within the European Union, where the former prime minister had upended the bloc by frequently vetoing key decisions, most recently concerning support for neighboring Ukraine.
—Justin Spike, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2026
The foul-mouthed teddy bear wants an Emmy.
—Clayton Davis, Variety, 12 May 2026
Sherman wants to know how much time the secretary — and government staff — spent on the project.
—Rachel Treisman, NPR, 12 May 2026
Understandably, Suzanne wants out.
—Ben Croll, IndieWire, 12 May 2026
Noun
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
But that conversation can’t be about your wants.
—Chicago Tribune, 7 May 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wants
Verb
-
Whiteness craves power and money and is unwilling to concede that power and money to non-whites.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 May 2026
-
Right now, Parsons craves some of that normalcy.—
Carlos Aguilar,
Los Angeles Times,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
Fu also stressed that more work needs to be done to boost domestic demand, urging businesses to improve their offerings to attract consumers.—
Anniek Bao,Evelyn Cheng,
CNBC,
18 May 2026
-
September 23 – October 22 A bigger perspective needs a practical container today.—
Tarot.com,
Chicago Tribune,
17 May 2026
Verb
-
If Japan wishes to continue its goal of expanding its anime endeavors in the overseas market from one trillion to six trillion yen ($38 billion) by 2033, Japanese companies will need to make a concerted effort in order to promote anime in the United States.—
Kalai Chik,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2026
-
In a story set in the Great Depression, the Filipino-American novelist wrote courageously of the struggles of the migrant worker who wishes to live with dignity in a world that chooses not to see him as fully human.—
Time,
Time,
12 May 2026
Verb
-
Millville Toaster Tarts For anyone who likes to start their day with a little bit of brown sugar pastry, consider picking up a box of Millville Toaster Tarts instead of name brand Pop-Tarts.—
Kait Hanson,
Southern Living,
18 May 2026
-
The policy wonk in me likes to think that the consensus was a result of persuasive ecological analysis by experts.—
Mark VanderSchaaf,
Twin Cities,
18 May 2026
Noun
-
Ford’s freedom or constraints, his prejudices or lacks, gauge his moment and ours.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Dipping into 2027 draft capital to make a fifth-round selection in a draft that Schneider has repeatedly said lacks depth is a surprising move.—
Michael-Shawn Dugar,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The problem is having a setup around him that simultaneously platforms his strengths and covers for his weaknesses.—
The Athletic UK Staff,
New York Times,
13 May 2026
-
What are your true emotional and mental weaknesses?—
Terry Terrones,
HollywoodReporter,
13 May 2026
Verb
-
On the eve of her 18th birthday, June (now portrayed by Justine Moore) desires a love match.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
22 Mar. 2026
-
Your heart desires the familiar as Venus enters Pisces.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Addressing long-term encampments requires consistent outreach, mental health care, sanitation access, and pathways to stable housing.—
Shianne LeClaire,
Hartford Courant,
17 May 2026
-
Traditionally, maintaining vigilance in places like the South China Sea requires constant Naval patrols, which are expensive.—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
16 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Wants.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wants. Accessed 19 May. 2026.
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