1
as in to crave
to have an earnest wish to own or enjoy
I want a new car so badly!
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to need
to have as a requirement
that stray cat wants food and a clean place to sleep
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to wish
to see fit
do what you want
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in to like
to wish to have
I want some ice cream for dessert, please
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in lack
the fact or state of being absent
the proverb that begins, "for want of a nail, the shoe was lost"
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in shortage
a falling short of an essential or desirable amount or number
there's a notable want of teachers in that rural school district
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in need
a state of being without something necessary, desirable, or useful
those children are in want of some good discipline
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4
as in poverty
the state of lacking sufficient money or material possessions
grew up in extreme want
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in failing
a defect in character
she's well-meaning and kind, but her besetting want is a complete lack of tact
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of want
Nikki Little, Forbes.com, 30 May 2025
Barkov would probably want that spread around to the rest of the team.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 30 May 2025
Stephanie McNeal, Glamour, 15 May 2025
That same culture remains, but those within the organization insist there have been tweaks along the way to keep up with the wants and needs of players.
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 14 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for want
Verb
Even if the news is hard, your employees want and will appreciate the truth.
—Nikki Little, Forbes.com, 30 May 2025
Barkov would probably want that spread around to the rest of the team.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 30 May 2025
Noun
However, as viewers see in the new season, which came out on Thursday, the 25-year-old’s new exploration of her own wants and needs isn’t always easy.
—Stephanie McNeal, Glamour, 15 May 2025
That same culture remains, but those within the organization insist there have been tweaks along the way to keep up with the wants and needs of players.
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 14 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for want
Recent Examples of Synonyms for want
Verb
-
The age of white-washed, super scant, and industrial spaces are behind us—designers are craving excitement, color, life, stories within interior design.—
Julia Harrison,
Architectural Digest,
25 May 2025
-
The entire ending of the game was wild, and now people are craving more drama from this series.—
Matt Levine,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 May 2025
Verb
-
Humans, specifically, need tryptophan to produce serotonin and melatonin, which respectively regulate mood and sleep.—
Adriana Pérez,
Chicago Tribune,
23 May 2025
-
Typically, people need pharmaceutical assistance to recover from parasites, Sullivan says, but there aren’t as many treatments available for Giardia as there are Cryptosporidium.—
Angela Haupt,
Time,
23 May 2025
Verb
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As for criticism, some customers noted that the cushions show dirt quickly due to their light color, while others wished for more thoughtful additions like cushion ties.—
Mariana Best,
Better Homes & Gardens,
25 May 2025
-
Ahead of the special election for Newport-Mesa Unified School District trustee, the Orange County Register compiled a list of questions to pose to the candidates who wish to represent the Area 5 seat.—
Erika I. Ritchie,
Oc Register,
25 May 2025
Verb
-
Celestial Park is an original concept world, which Universal likes to say puts the park back into theme park.—
Eve Chen,
USA Today,
25 May 2025
-
According to Lesperance, most people don't like to move, abandoning their familiar life for one that is widely unknown.—
Giulia Carbonaro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 May 2025
Noun
-
After two days exploring Barcelona, Spain, Napton was surprised at the lack of political discourse.—
Kathleen Wong,
USA Today,
26 May 2025
-
Morehouse graduates applaud the honor Part of the tragedy of Hubert’s lynching was a lack of awareness surrounding his story among Morehouse graduates until only recently, several alumni said.—
Dalia Faheid,
CNN Money,
25 May 2025
Noun
-
The Philadelphia air traffic control facility that handles flights at Newark is also experiencing a staffing shortage.—
Megan Cerullo,
CBS News,
19 May 2025
-
In their open letter this spring, former weather service directors warned that severe staffing shortages at local weather service offices could lead to less accurate and detailed forecasts this summer.—
Rebecca Hersher,
NPR,
19 May 2025
Noun
-
It’s been 14 years since the Census Bureau began issuing reports on poverty that factored in the cost of living.—
U T Editorial Board,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
23 May 2025
-
Notably absent is a thorough discussion of how socioeconomic factors like poverty are the underlying drivers of why some children are faring so poorly.—
Will Stone,
NPR,
22 May 2025
Noun
-
If this story were a parable, our hero would likely suffer some ignoble end as punishment for his moral failings.—
Hazlitt,
Hazlitt,
13 May 2025
-
In this newest cover-up, Clooney repeats his film’s original failing — its nostalgic salute to the power of electronic media suasion.—
Armond White,
National Review,
30 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Want.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/want. Accessed 3 Jun. 2025.
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