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
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Recent Examples of wants
Brian Truitt, USA Today, 13 Sep. 2025
If your toddler wants to listen to even more music after school, start with this playlist, which is just over 30 minutes.
—Elisabeth Sherman, Parents, 12 Sep. 2025
Fisher's student group, for instance, wants to bring Students for Life America President Kristan Hawkins to campus later this year.
—Matthew Cupelli, The Enquirer, 12 Sep. 2025
Everyone in New York City wants to keep this restaurant to themselves, but self-control doesn’t come easy.
—The Bon Appétit Staff, Bon Appetit Magazine, 12 Sep. 2025
Reese wants great players in Chicago?
—Sabreena Merchant, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2025
Today’s consumer wants products that reflect their identity and values, and papers are part of that equation.
—Sara Payan, Rolling Stone, 5 Sep. 2025
No one – young, old, urban, rural, gun owner or not, with any political affiliation – wants to lose a loved one to suicide.
—Emmy Betz, The Conversation, 5 Sep. 2025
This efficient method of flight is what the Albatross team wants to adapt for drones.
—Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 5 Sep. 2025
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
Their simple plan goes awry when one of their relatives wants a posh Korean wedding banquet in the heartfelt romantic comedy.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 13 Sep. 2025
If your toddler wants to listen to even more music after school, start with this playlist, which is just over 30 minutes.
—Elisabeth Sherman, Parents, 12 Sep. 2025
Fisher's student group, for instance, wants to bring Students for Life America President Kristan Hawkins to campus later this year.
—Matthew Cupelli, The Enquirer, 12 Sep. 2025
Everyone in New York City wants to keep this restaurant to themselves, but self-control doesn’t come easy.
—The Bon Appétit Staff, Bon Appetit Magazine, 12 Sep. 2025
Reese wants great players in Chicago?
—Sabreena Merchant, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2025
Today’s consumer wants products that reflect their identity and values, and papers are part of that equation.
—Sara Payan, Rolling Stone, 5 Sep. 2025
No one – young, old, urban, rural, gun owner or not, with any political affiliation – wants to lose a loved one to suicide.
—Emmy Betz, The Conversation, 5 Sep. 2025
This efficient method of flight is what the Albatross team wants to adapt for drones.
—Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 5 Sep. 2025
Noun
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
-
The games are one of the few program formats that still bring the broad, simultaneous viewership that Madison Avenue craves — and, as a result, more advertisers are trying to get money down on them, even if they haven’t been known for doing so in the past.—
Brian Steinberg,
Variety,
5 Sep. 2025
-
Directed by Joe Lam and produced by Joe Barbagallo and Brent Trotter, the film tells the story of Alessa and Chris, a young couple whose lives unravel when Alessa becomes pregnant with a child that craves blood.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
London desperately needs that at a time when British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and his ministers have been accused of harming business sentiment and investment with recent tax rises.—
Holly Ellyatt,
CNBC,
17 Sep. 2025
-
Rhodes needs a heel run at some point in the next year or two.—
Brian Mazique,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
To help illustrate the differences, consider a taxpayer in the top marginal tax bracket (22%) who wishes to save $100 for retirement.—
Nathan Goldman,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
-
While the defense remains solid, the offense needs to get back on track if the team wishes to have a strong campaign in 2025.—
Richard Pereira,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Andrew Santino likes to push the envelope.—
Ethan Shanfeld,
Variety,
10 Sep. 2025
-
Morgan Jasper likes to switch it up, so Tinika helps get me into my multiple wigs throughout the show.—
Akili King,
Essence,
10 Sep. 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
-
With cybercriminals already having stolen over $2 billion in 2025, according to DeFiLlama, a 77% increase from 2024, the weaknesses of the DeFi ecosystem continue to prove lucrative for hackers and other criminal elements.—
Sean Stein Smith,
Forbes.com,
13 Sep. 2025
-
But football evolves, and opponents will work out a team’s strengths and turn them into weaknesses.—
Jacob Tanswell,
New York Times,
11 Sep. 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
-
That requires humans to choose regeneration over extraction.—
Cornelia C. Walther,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
-
However, the infrastructure costs are enormous, since maglev requires entirely new guideways, rather than upgrading existing tracks.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
15 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Wants.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wants. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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