wish 1 of 2

Definition of wishnext
1
as in to impose
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 & Similar Words

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wish

2 of 2

noun

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb wish differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of wish are covet, crave, desire, and want. While all these words mean "to have a longing for," wish sometimes implies a general or transient longing especially for the unattainable.

wishes for permanent world peace

When can covet be used instead of wish?

The meanings of covet and wish largely overlap; however, covet implies strong envious desire.

covets his rise to fame

In what contexts can crave take the place of wish?

While the synonyms crave and wish are close in meaning, crave stresses the force of physical appetite or emotional need.

craves sweets

When would desire be a good substitute for wish?

Although the words desire and wish have much in common, desire stresses the strength of feeling and often implies strong intention or aim.

desires to start a new life

Where would want be a reasonable alternative to wish?

The words want and wish can be used in similar contexts, but want specifically suggests a felt need or lack.

wants to have a family

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of wish
Verb
Supporters are asking the public to keep Aaron in their thoughts and prayers and to share the fundraising effort with those who may wish to contribute. Ana Gutierrez, Austin American Statesman, 27 Jan. 2026 The 53-year-old Wayne County man, who wishes to remain anonymous, won the top prize playing the Michigan Lottery's Legendary Wild Time instant game. Joseph Buczek, CBS News, 26 Jan. 2026
Noun
In an extended statement on the Kim Vo Salon’s official website, Khan added that Vo’s final wish was that his legacy be one of helping others. Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 25 Jan. 2026 His client’s wish — to repatriate the objects and honor Thailand’s cultural heritage — rang always in his ears. Teri Sforza, Oc Register, 24 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for wish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wish
Verb
  • The 20-month sentence imposed on Kim was a surprise after independent counsel Min Joong-ki called for a 15-year prison term on three charges, including stock price manipulation, political funding law violations and accepting bribes.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 29 Jan. 2026
  • Mikel Arteta and his players are facing criticism for not imposing themselves on opposition teams forcefully enough, allowing valuable points to slip through their fingers at such a crucial point of the season.
    Graham Ruthven, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Contestants are trying to please the producer asking the questions.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 29 Jan. 2026
  • Las Vegas is also a crowd-pleasing favorite in this regard.
    Alex Ledsom, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • The Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles on Monday denied Thompson's request to commute his death sentence to a lesser penalty.
    CBS News, CBS News, 28 Jan. 2026
  • Bondi and Blanche filed a response arguing that Massie and Khanna do not have a legal basis for the request.
    Sarah D. Wire, USA Today, 28 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • An autopsy conducted by the DuPage County Coroner found roughly 70 stab wounds on Morales, most inflicted by a knife.
    Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 29 Jan. 2026
  • Most of them were in the South, where weekend blasts of freezing rain caused tree limbs and power lines to snap, inflicting crippling outages on northern Mississippi and parts of Tennessee.
    Russ Bynum, Los Angeles Times, 27 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Rieder is believed to prefer lower interest rates, a top priority for a president who wants massive rate cuts.
    Matt Egan, CNN Money, 30 Jan. 2026
  • Cook said Apple is in the process of increasing its access to supply and didn’t want to forecast beyond March.
    Kif Leswing, CNBC, 30 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • This follows a general trend of people reporting less desire to get married and have families at a young age.
    Rachel Hale, USA Today, 31 Jan. 2026
  • Born from Raimi’s desire to make a movie about pulp hero the Shadow before he was denied the rights by Universal, Darkman is an original creation, starring Liam Neeson as a scientist who is disfigured in a mob attack and given superpowers thanks to an experimental treatment.
    James Grebey, Vulture, 31 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Ships have real inertia and Newtonian physics, and pilots can choose to toggle flight assistance on to help stabilize their often unpredictable craft, or off to perform mind-bending maneuvers that can be the edge between life and death in high-skill player versus player shootouts.
    Alan Bradley, Space.com, 31 Jan. 2026
  • Goldis chose not to stand down, letting the deadline pass.
    Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 31 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Keeping clean and precise transaction records to protect themselves is a must, as the Department of Justice and Customs and Border Protection have been tasked with cracking down on any attempts at tariff evasion.
    Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 28 Jan. 2026
  • For a neighborhood favorite, Loretta’s Pralines on Rampart Street is a must.
    Sophie Morgan, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Jan. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Wish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wish. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.

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