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

First, if the president wants to have any hope of winning either the House of Representatives or the Senate, the war has to end soon. — Jim Cramer, CNBC, 4 Oct. 2026

The team wants everything to be printable for mass production. — New Atlas, 4 Oct. 2026

Above all else, the 39-year-old wants to be a good mentor to incredibly impressionable middle schoolers. — Ryan Canfield Outkick, FOXNews.com, 3 Oct. 2026

And that's exactly what Rykman wants her live shows to accomplish. — Steve Spaleta, Space.com, 3 Oct. 2026

My daughter wants a home more than a small child wants a piece of delicious candy. — Tim Carter, Hartford Courant, 3 Oct. 2026

Ownership wants a salary cap to give clubs long-term certainty over their largest cost. — Chris Koras, Sportico.com, 28 Sep. 2026

Jia wants Pingyao to remain a haven for cinephiles rather than a hall of fame. — Jenny S. Li, Variety, 27 Sep. 2026

Most of the royal family wants nothing to do with Fergie, but sources told Closer that Queen Camilla might be interested in reconnecting with her former friend. — Allison Degrushe, StyleCaster, 27 Sep. 2026

Noun

Put yourself in the perspective of your prospective customer, and create a campaign that taps into their desires and their fears, their wants and their needs. — Ivan Doruda, Forbes.com, 29 Sep. 2026

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