WISHES Synonyms: 78 Similar and Opposite Words

wishes 1 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of wish

as in imposes

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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as in wants

to see fit you're free to sit wherever you wish

Synonyms & Similar Words

wishes

2 of 2

noun

plural of wish

as in desires

Related Words

as in respects

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

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 wishes

Verb

Golding wishes more people would enroll in hospice as soon as they’re diagnosed with a terminal illness. — Michael Collins, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2026 Plotkin also wishes his doctors had been more willing to question the original diagnosis. — Grace Gavilanes, PEOPLE, 24 Aug. 2026 Thoroughly unimpressed by her suburban idyll, and evidently unmoved by her responsibilities as wife and mother, Denise labors in her basement on a novel whose protagonist wishes to forsake her family for a life in New York. — Peter Tonguette, The Washington Examiner, 22 Aug. 2026 Early in Mutiny, Statham’s latest outing, there’s a moment in which his character, Cole Reed, looks over photos of his late father on a tablet, then wishes the man a happy birthday. — Alison Willmore, Vulture, 21 Aug. 2026 Editor’s pick More picks Longtime Disneyland fans are finally getting one of their top theme park wishes. — Kevinisha Walker, Los Angeles Times, 17 Aug. 2026 This is for anyone who wishes their morning smoothie was a piña colada. — Alex Beggs, Bon Appetit Magazine, 14 Aug. 2026 If the letter writer, or anyone else facing a similar situation, wishes to wait until after a relative has passed before having conversations about where the relative’s possessions will go, this might be a good option. — R. Eric Thomas, Mercury News, 13 Aug. 2026 Now, after White delivers a prepared speech invoking hatred, fear mongering, divisiveness, love, grace, humility and Michelle Obama, the media reaction is that everyone really wishes outsiders would stop bringing non-basketball issues into the WNBA. — Dan Zaksheske Outkick, FOXNews.com, 12 Aug. 2026

Noun

Since 1981, Disney has helped fulfill wishes with the organization for more than 175,000 children, or a wish an hour each day. — Brian Brant, PEOPLE, 27 Apr. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for wishes

Verb

Even at the speed of light through fiber, that round trip imposes around 30 milliseconds of latency before any compute happens.

— Jolie Kahn, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2026
New York state requires riders of all forms of e-bikes to be at least 16, and New York City imposes additional restrictions, including a 15 mph (24 kph) speed limit.

— ABC News, ABC News, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of imposes

Verb

The acquisition’s financing depends on savings that the protections everyone wants would prohibit.

— Joseph M. Singer, HollywoodReporter, 25 Aug. 2026
Garden Homes wants to build at 30 Parade Hill Road, a small property a little less than a mile north of the town’s commercial center and a bit more than a mile south of the New Canaan Country Club.

— Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of wants

Verb

If a deepfake inflicts commercial damage or misleads consumers, businesses can pursue civil claims for defamation or false light, alongside federal trademark suits under the Lanham Act.

— Allyson Kapin, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026
Fortunately, Green’s film exists — and was not thrown into a little black hole by a bunch of accountants, never to be seen again — and can surely help cure any of the pain its backstory still inflicts on movie fans and Tunes geeks.

— Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of inflicts

Verb

Coastal decor darling Serena & Lily brings you the Pacifica modular collection to suit any configuration that pleases you.

— Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 28 May 2026
For something more substantial, Ramsey’s pleases both vegetarians and meat eaters with options such as BBQ brisket sandwich with homemade onion straws or Zucchini Noodle Thai Bowl.

— Sarah Miller, Midwest Living, 29 Apr. 2026