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

Israel wants Lebanon’s government to assume responsibility for disarming Hezbollah, much like was envisaged in a November 2024 ceasefire. —ABC News, 14 Apr. 2026

The Kennedy Center’s new leadership wants to prove to critics the building is damaged beyond simple repair. —Steven Sloan, Los Angeles Times, 14 Apr. 2026

The Chicago Bears are busy preparing for next week’s NFL draft — and after that, the league wants to learn more about the team’s stadium plans. —Brad Biggs, Chicago Tribune, 14 Apr. 2026

Hafley wants to have four down linemen as his base, so that could alter the types of defensive fronts the Dolphins play. —David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 14 Apr. 2026

Gen Z wants better work-life balance. —Preston Fore, Fortune, 14 Apr. 2026

Moreover, Israel’s veto over any regional settlement will not disappear because Washington wants a deal. —Farah N. Jan, The Conversation, 14 Apr. 2026

October 23 – November 21 Creativity wants a stage — and willing partners. —Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 8 Apr. 2026

Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund has shown interest in a team in London; Qatar Sports Investment, the owners of soccer giant PSG, is eying one in Paris; and RedBird Capital, which owns AC Milan and is an investor in Paramount, wants a team in Milan. —Mike Vorkunov, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2026

Noun

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

That means 50% of a budget is spent on needs, 30% on wants and 20% on savings or debt payments. —Madeline Bartos, CBS News, 27 Mar. 2026

Their journey from a fractious dynamic and rocky road to fraternal camaraderie was rooted in the fact that Shawn grew up in poverty, facing constant adversity, while Jack grew up in a stable household without wants. —Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 23 Feb. 2026

Waldo’s digital shopping cart — and McCurdy’s brusque descriptions of her late-night binges — highlight the gaping, cavernous maw of her wants. —Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 20 Jan. 2026

Instead of a set schedule and activities with no wiggle room, retreats will start to cater to your wants and needs. —Audrey Noble, Vogue, 2 Jan. 2026