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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

desire

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verb

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb desire differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of desire are covet, crave, want, and wish. While all these words 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

Where would covet be a reasonable alternative to desire?

While the synonyms covet and desire are close in meaning, covet implies strong envious desire.

covets his rise to fame

When might crave be a better fit than desire?

In some situations, the words crave and desire are roughly equivalent. However, crave stresses the force of physical appetite or emotional need.

craves sweets

When could want be used to replace desire?

The synonyms want and desire are sometimes interchangeable, but want specifically suggests a felt need or lack.

wants to have a family

When is it sensible to use wish instead of desire?

The meanings of wish and desire largely overlap; however, wish sometimes implies a general or transient longing especially for the unattainable.

wishes for permanent world peace

Examples 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 desire
Noun
Within the cozy games and the footage of people playing them, though, there seems to be a desire for something beyond the screen, the sorts of physical experiences hinted at by the games’ analog subject matter—farming, potion-mixing, construction. Kyle Chayka, The New Yorker, 20 Nov. 2024 Likewise, Juba, played by Djimon Hounsou, is a Nubian hunter also turned gladiator, whose calm loyalty and faith despite his separation from his family is a fascinating counterpoint to Maximus’ desire for vengeance. Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 19 Nov. 2024
Verb
Meanwhile, place bread in toaster and toast to desired darkness. Kelly Brant, arkansasonline.com, 6 Nov. 2024 And yet we are left with a binary choice that, perhaps, leaves something to be desired. Hannah Parry, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for desire 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for desire
Noun
  • So fight the urge to take a nap and first, go for a walk.
    Maria Godoy, NPR, 27 Nov. 2024
  • Pro Tip for the Best Sweet Potato Casserole After removing the casserole from the oven, resist the urge to dive right in.
    Amanda Stanfield, Southern Living, 23 Nov. 2024
Noun
  • As does her passion for pasta, which echoes time spent at the late Del Posto in NYC.
    Matthew Odam, Austin American-Statesman, 21 Nov. 2024
  • Modeling the fall of Rome in an alternate version of New York City, ‘Megalopolis’ has been ‘The Godfather’ director’s passion project for over 40 years.
    Dana Thomas, Architectural Digest, 20 Nov. 2024
Noun
  • Before Paxton filed his latest motion seeking to block his testimony, the state 3rd Court of Appeals and the Texas Supreme Court both rejected similar appeals by Paxton.
    Hogan Gore, Austin American-Statesman, 22 Nov. 2024
  • Earlier this year, the Illinois Supreme Court agreed to hear his appeal.
    Ellise Shafer, Variety, 21 Nov. 2024
Verb
  • Yet social media algorithms crave controversy to drive clicks and engagement, so online forums erupted with fans complaining about the change.
    Robert Niles, Orange County Register, 19 Nov. 2024
  • Global South countries crave a trustworthy partner.
    Leslie Vinjamuri, Foreign Affairs, 15 Nov. 2024
Verb
  • At Film Bazaar, which is the project market component of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa, the team seeks to connect with potential co-producers and sales agents.
    Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 23 Nov. 2024
  • FirstEnergy sought either a state or a federal solution for its financially struggling nuclear plants, which were later owned by a subsidiary.
    Jessie Balmert, The Enquirer, 22 Nov. 2024
Noun
  • When the first generation of Vietnamese refugees began arriving in Orange County decades ago, many of them harbored a longing to participate in the political process.
    Daniel Miller, Los Angeles Times, 29 Oct. 2024
  • Witness By Whittaker Chambers Life So Far, by Betty Friedan Humans have a deep longing to canonize political heroes as saints.
    Franklin Foer, The Atlantic, 23 Oct. 2024
Noun
  • But the real stars of the film, in my opinion, are all the older women in town who simply cannot hide their lust for this Hot Frosty.
    Stephanie McNeal, Glamour, 27 Nov. 2024
  • The lust for power and wealth among the Elon Musk and Pay-Pal Mafia types are now as boundless as their mind-controlling algorithms are powerful.
    Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, 16 Nov. 2024
Noun
  • Hana Makhmalbaf delivered a final plea for these creatives to be remembered as the world moves on from those tragic events of 2021.
    Max Goldbart, Deadline, 27 Nov. 2024
  • Just 16 of those cases resulted in a guilty plea, and in 2021, nearly $1.2 million in fines and fees were waived due to a defendant completing an alternative sentence toward ending their homelessness, according to data from the court.
    Ryan Gillespie, Orlando Sentinel, 26 Nov. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near desire

Cite this Entry

“Desire.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/desire. Accessed 3 Dec. 2024.

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