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

School staff cannot lie to parents — including matters that a student wishes to conceal from their parents. — Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 15 Sep. 2026 Ross feels the farming life grounds him and wishes others could experience it. — Skyler Trepel, PEOPLE, 13 Sep. 2026 This one goes out to anyone who wishes the play scene in Revolutionary Road had been the whole dang movie. — John Ross, Vanity Fair, 10 Sep. 2026 The purchase of a Premier League club in 2021 has come to look like a sound investment, and there is little obvious sense that PIF wishes to back out of St James’ Park. — Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026 Treating against the parents’ wishes would entail calling state authorities and requesting an emergency removal. — Eric Boodman, STAT, 3 Sep. 2026 In the supernatural horror film, a young man wishes for Nikki to love him more than anything, but the wish quickly takes a terrifying turn. — Denis Akbari, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2026 One only wishes the film could have done the same while also making a fully satisfying meal of the cartoonish villains who’ve come to destroy them. — Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 31 Aug. 2026 Looking back at the situation, Selberg wishes he had been been granted the opportunity to speak with members of the Collierville Board of Mayor of Aldermen. — Corey Davis, Memphis Commercial Appeal, 27 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

This imposes substantial costs to consumers, limits access to free information and content on the open web, and reduces pathways to earnings for writers and content producers.

— Vivek Shah, Fortune, 14 Sep. 2026
The law imposes consequences for the new crime that are similar to other child pornography convictions, according to a summary of the bill.

— Hope Karnopp, jsonline.com, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of imposes

Verb

Pretoria wants American investors to build smelters, factories, and processing facilities in South Africa, rather than relying principally on conventional offtake agreements with local mines.

— Alexis Akwagyiram, semafor.com, 21 Sep. 2026
Someone may want quiet while someone else wants action, or a minor household issue could become strangely emotional.

— Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 20 Sep. 2026

Definition of wants

Noun

In its strongest moments, the film illustrates how the often contradictory desires for individual liberation and family connection are universal experiences.

— Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 19 Sep. 2026
But even there, romance novels can serve as a safe and healthy way for young (and not-so-young) people to explore their own desires.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of desires

Noun

Marie painstakingly builds the abbey into a regional power center to which notables must pay their respects.

— David Faris, TheWeek, 16 Sep. 2026
In one of the last photographs taken of Astrid, the princess is seen sitting in a wheelchair dressed in all black as royals from Europe and around the world gathered in Oslo to pay their respects to Harald.

— Jennifer Hassan, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of respects

Verb

The more suffering Russia inflicts on Ukrainian civilians, the more Europe invests in Ukraine’s defense and its own.

— MICHAEL KIMMAGE, Foreign Affairs, 14 Sep. 2026
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

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

Definition of pleases

Noun

Roma Daravi, a spokesperson for the Kennedy Center, did not respond to requests for comment.

— MATTHEW DALY, Arkansas Online, 17 Sep. 2026
Loan requests from borrowers increased 42% between the first and second quarters of 2026, with nearly 87% used for essential expenses, according to the company’s proprietary data.

— Rachel Barber, USA Today, 16 Sep. 2026