1
as in urge
a strong wish for something
a desire for adventure and excitement prompted him to travel to Africa
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in passion
sexual appetite
ads for drugs that increase desire
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in appeal
an earnest request
at the delegate's desire, the voice vote on the controversial measure was followed by an actual roll call
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in to crave
to have an earnest wish to own or enjoy
he greatly desired a new mountain bike for his next birthday
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to seek
to make a request for
the host desires a response to the dinner invitation by tomorrow
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of desire
Joseph Hernandez
march 28, Kansas City Star, 28 Mar. 2026
In this production, most of the Spanish men are leering, grabbing, demanding predators, so Carmen merely capitalizes on their base desires to survive.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Mar. 2026
Jeffrey S. Solochek, Sun Sentinel, 17 Mar. 2026
The switch-hitting Martian is a work in progress from the right side, and his defense, limited to left field, still leaves a lot to be desired.
—Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 16 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for desire
Noun
The new desire to see movies how the directors intended also ties in with the rise of interest in wanting to see movies from smaller distributing companies.
—Joseph Hernandez
march 28, Kansas City Star, 28 Mar. 2026
In this production, most of the Spanish men are leering, grabbing, demanding predators, so Carmen merely capitalizes on their base desires to survive.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Mar. 2026
Verb
Lawmakers did not agree on rules for artificial intelligence uses in education, for instance, or revamp school vaccination requirements as some desired.
—Jeffrey S. Solochek, Sun Sentinel, 17 Mar. 2026
The switch-hitting Martian is a work in progress from the right side, and his defense, limited to left field, still leaves a lot to be desired.
—Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 16 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for desire
Recent Examples of Synonyms for desire
Noun
-
Medicine Cabinet Medicine expires, so resist the urge to buy in bulk.—
Cody Godwin,
USA Today,
24 Mar. 2026
-
Here’s a reminder of what’s out there, beyond the confines of this Earth, that calls to our sense of adventure, exploration, and our urge to know the unknown.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
23 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Let that passion carry you through the busier stretches.—
Kirah Tabourn,
Condé Nast Traveler,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Family comes first, and mom leads the way for the Carusos, and their passion is Chicago's famous signature condiment, giardiniera.—
Edie Kasten,
CBS News,
28 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
For both the academy and AEG, which owns and operates the complex, the appeal is in keeping everything in one place — arrivals, ceremony, the Governors Ball and afterparties — rather than spreading events across multiple locations.—
Tribune News Service,
Baltimore Sun,
26 Mar. 2026
-
The emotional appeal and audience desire for wholesome content contributed to the spread.—
Hanna Wickes,
Charlotte Observer,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
And for anyone who craves the Charlotte that existed before the craft cocktail boom and the rooftop bar era, this basement-level pub is a gift.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
20 Mar. 2026
-
Las Vegas has desperately been looking for its long-term signal-caller, and Mendoza provides the consistency and professionalism that the Raiders have craved for decades at the position.—
Nick Harris,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The latter, a wry comedy of futile endeavor, was based on a story by Kiarostami, but Haghighi soon sought to shake off Kiarostami’s influence—and, even more, a prevailing caricature of Iranian cinema that Kiarostami’s style had given rise to.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Under California law, prisoners seeking parole may not be penalized for failing to admit wrongdoing, so Kovacich’s claim of innocence was not used against him, Tellman said.—
Sharon Bernstein,
Sacbee.com,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
What could have been a straightforward suburban critique is instead closer to a rich, deep baroque painting capturing longing, power, and hushed domestic drama.—
Vanity Fair,
Vanity Fair,
26 Mar. 2026
-
The trailer opens with Moana longing for more beyond the reef of her home island, Motunui, as her grandmother, Gramma Tala (Rena Owen), shares a story.—
Angeline Jane Bernabe,
ABC News,
23 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
But between strutting around like a rock god, Michael presented nuanced and sophisticated looks at lust.—
Jed Gottlieb,
Boston Herald,
26 Mar. 2026
-
The songs are all about freedom, single motherhood, love and lust — often in the same breath.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
20 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
His plea came before jury selection began for his trial.—
CBS New York Team,
CBS News,
25 Mar. 2026
-
Epstein allegedly had $30M in annual expenses Both men sought to defend Epstein's finances, arguing that the web of holding companies and bank accounts used by Epstein were standard practice and that Epstein needed to operate in cash after his 2008 guilty plea limited his access to credit.—
Peter Charalambous,
ABC News,
24 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Desire.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/desire. Accessed 29 Mar. 2026.
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