Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
×

Thesaurus

wish

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of wish

1 to offer (something fake, useless, or inferior) as genuine, useful, or valuable
  • Despite my protestations, the dreaded position of club secretary was wished on me.
Synonyms of wish

fob off, foist, palm, palm off, pass off
Words Related to wish

entail, force, impose, inflict

counterfeit, fake, forge

distort, falsify, misrepresent
2 to see fit
  • You're free to sit wherever you wish.
Synonyms of wish

choose, like, please, want, will
Words Related to wish

ache (for), covet, crave, desire, die (for), fancy, hanker (for), hunger (for), itch (for), long (for), lust (for or after), pant (after), pine (for), repine (for), sigh (for), thirst (for), yearn (for)

decide, determine, resolve

Synonym Discussion of wish

desire, wish, want, crave, covet mean to have a longing for. desire stresses the strength of feeling and often implies strong intention or aim.
    • desires to start a new life
wish sometimes implies a general or transient longing especially for the unattainable.
    • wishes for permanent world peace
want specifically suggests a felt need or lack.
    • wants to have a family
crave stresses the force of physical appetite or emotional need.
    • craves sweets
covet implies strong envious desire.
    • covets his rise to fame

Learn More about wish

  1. See words that rhyme with wish Dictionary: Definition of wish Spanish Central: Translation of wish Nglish: Translation of wish for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of wish for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up wish? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games