1
as in wrong
falling short of a standard
we tried her cooking and found it to be very wanting
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in lacking
not coming up to an expected measure or meeting a particular need
at this time of year food for many wild animals is wanting
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in absent
not present or in evidence
grass is almost entirely wanting in that arid wasteland
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in craving
to have an earnest wish to own or enjoy
I want a new car so badly!
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in needing
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 wishing
to see fit
do what you want
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in liking
to wish to have
I want some ice cream for dessert, please
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of wanting
Susan Dominus Susan Dominus Photographs By Luis Alberto Rodriguez Styled By Charlotte Collet Nick Haramis Photographs By Lise Sarfati Styled By Suzanne Koller Sasha Weiss Photographs By Justin French Adam Bradley Photographs By D’angelo Lovell Williams Styled By Ian Bradley, New York Times, 13 Oct. 2022
Maybe our poor and wanting selves are our only authentic ones, and all others performances of convenience or necessity.
—Rafia Zakaria, The New Republic, 5 May 2022
Don’t let your husband convince you that being needy and wanting affection are the same thing.
—Annie Lane, oregonlive, 19 Nov. 2021
Lucero really has nowhere else to go but up after a subpar performance against a wanting pass defense and has the talent and poise to lead the offense in Tyler Johnston’s absence.
—Evan Dudley, al, 29 Oct. 2020
Kwame Christian Esq, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026
Parking is free and there is an elevator in back for those wanting to avoid the stairs.
—Elizabeth Marie Himchak, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 May 2026
One contentious issue under discussion is Iran’s $24 billion in frozen assets, with Tehran wanting half that amount released upon the signing of an agreement, the semi-official Tasnim news agency reported.
—Bloomberg News, Boston Herald, 26 May 2026
In the backdrop of weather on a Memorial Day holiday weekend fit for the Pacific Northwest and a dozen signs wanting MJF to be bald by the end of the night, MJF went to war with Allin right out of the gate.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 25 May 2026
Royalty, in general, isn’t exactly known for being very down to earth, but William has been very open about wanting to modernize the monarchy.
—Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 23 May 2026
Klee appeared to be testing himself, wanting to open out his experience.
—Sanford Schwartz, The New York Review of Books, 23 May 2026
In addition to creating an election crimes office and tougher penalties for fraud, the new law required that voters wanting a mail ballot must request one every election cycle.
—Michael Van Sickler, Miami Herald, 19 May 2026
The streetcar day is free, but those wanting to go should RSVP for free using this link.
—Kansas City Star, 19 May 2026
Adjective
Verdon demanded much of herself and of others, in her relationships, in her work, and Williams captured that hunger, along with the vulnerability that so much wanting lays bare.
—Susan Dominus Susan Dominus Photographs By Luis Alberto Rodriguez Styled By Charlotte Collet Nick Haramis Photographs By Lise Sarfati Styled By Suzanne Koller Sasha Weiss Photographs By Justin French Adam Bradley Photographs By D’angelo Lovell Williams Styled By Ian Bradley, New York Times, 13 Oct. 2022
Maybe our poor and wanting selves are our only authentic ones, and all others performances of convenience or necessity.
—Rafia Zakaria, The New Republic, 5 May 2022
Don’t let your husband convince you that being needy and wanting affection are the same thing.
—Annie Lane, oregonlive, 19 Nov. 2021
Lucero really has nowhere else to go but up after a subpar performance against a wanting pass defense and has the talent and poise to lead the offense in Tyler Johnston’s absence.
—Evan Dudley, al, 29 Oct. 2020
Verb
The other preparation that matters is connecting the negotiation to a personal goal that has nothing to do with wanting more money in the abstract.
—Kwame Christian Esq, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026
Parking is free and there is an elevator in back for those wanting to avoid the stairs.
—Elizabeth Marie Himchak, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 May 2026
One contentious issue under discussion is Iran’s $24 billion in frozen assets, with Tehran wanting half that amount released upon the signing of an agreement, the semi-official Tasnim news agency reported.
—Bloomberg News, Boston Herald, 26 May 2026
In the backdrop of weather on a Memorial Day holiday weekend fit for the Pacific Northwest and a dozen signs wanting MJF to be bald by the end of the night, MJF went to war with Allin right out of the gate.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 25 May 2026
Royalty, in general, isn’t exactly known for being very down to earth, but William has been very open about wanting to modernize the monarchy.
—Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 23 May 2026
Klee appeared to be testing himself, wanting to open out his experience.
—Sanford Schwartz, The New York Review of Books, 23 May 2026
In addition to creating an election crimes office and tougher penalties for fraud, the new law required that voters wanting a mail ballot must request one every election cycle.
—Michael Van Sickler, Miami Herald, 19 May 2026
The streetcar day is free, but those wanting to go should RSVP for free using this link.
—Kansas City Star, 19 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wanting
Adjective
-
In Georgia, a judge dismissed a Justice Department lawsuit because it had been filed in the wrong city, prompting the government to refile elsewhere.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
23 May 2026
-
In its deconstruction of society and the prejudice that immigrants face, Fjord per critics could conceivably rub both liberals and conservatives the wrong way.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
23 May 2026
Adjective
-
Maresca’s raw qualifications, however, are somewhat lacking.—
Graham Ruthven,
Forbes.com,
22 May 2026
-
Not just any type of bus, but a marshrutka—a crowded, rumbling, claustrophobic Soviet holdover minibus, solidly built with steel girding and equally lacking in shock absorbers and seat padding.—
Irene Zabytko
May 7,
Literary Hub,
7 May 2026
Adjective
-
Or about Evan Mobley going absent for stretches of Game 2.—
Ian O'Connor,
New York Times,
24 May 2026
-
Former Prince Andrew was absent from the lineup as he was stripped of his royal duties in 2019 amid controversy surrounding his ties to Jeffrey Epstein.—
Paloma Chavez,
PEOPLE,
23 May 2026
Preposition
-
Truly domesticating bees required a hive with movable frames, one that would allow beekeepers to examine their bees and harvest honey without destroying the colony.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 May 2026
-
The backstory This all started with a man who loved antiques, and a decision to import a church from Vietnam without a clear idea of what to do with it—plus a love story.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
27 May 2026
Verb
-
People were craving the culture and art that had been suppressed during his oppressive reign.—
Althea Legaspi,
Rolling Stone,
27 May 2026
-
Iñaki Ereño, the chief executive of one of the world’s largest health care companies, told Fortune’s Orianna Rosa Royle in a recent exclusive interview that craving work-life balance is a red flag.—
Sydney Lake,
Fortune,
26 May 2026
Verb
-
Your natural warmth helps people stay engaged without needing to force enthusiasm.—
Tarot.com,
Chicago Tribune,
24 May 2026
-
Haiti entered the final round of qualifying matches needing a victory and Honduras to lose or draw to qualify automatically as the first-place finisher in Group C of Concacaf World Cup qualifying.—
Michelle Kaufman
May 24,
Miami Herald,
24 May 2026
Verb
-
Helprin's tree has also led to other wishing trees popping up around Portland, including one on North Williams Avenue between Northeast Shaver Street and Northeast Mason Street that has plenty of wishes tied to it, according to Atlas Obscura.—
Lexi Lane,
PEOPLE,
24 May 2026
-
The horses and riders who lined up to contest the €500,000 (US$580,200) first prize were in the form of their lives, all wishing for their names to be etched on the wall among the pantheon of greats who have come before them.—
The Athletic Staff,
New York Times,
24 May 2026
Verb
-
They are born, sometimes, just from not liking each other.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
28 May 2026
-
One man’s modernity is, of course, another’s degradation, and, as dinner was served, the conversation turned to such recent innovations as ghost runners, pitch clocks, and robot umps, none of them to Murray’s liking.—
Ben McGrath,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Wanting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wanting. Accessed 30 May. 2026.
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