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
Rachel Desantis, PEOPLE, 24 June 2026
Lyles has not given a reason for her resignation beyond wanting to spend more time with her family.
—Mary Ramsey
updated June 22, Charlotte Observer, 23 June 2026
All five of us came through the door wanting control.
—Rob Picheta, CNN Money, 23 June 2026
The port attributed the declines to shippers wanting to unload cargo at a first or second port call to get ahead of any tariff deadlines.
—Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 23 June 2026
The courtroom was packed with heartbroken supporters wanting justice for Jor'Dynn as each woman stood silent in front of the judge.
—Alexa Herrera, CBS News, 23 June 2026
In interviews, Cannelle has spoken about wanting to represent her country and make French cool, and CINNA shines on this front, infusing sounds popularized by the likes of Justice and Yelle with fresh humor and personality.
—Lydia Wei, Pitchfork, 23 June 2026
The whys behind players not wanting to play in Canada are varied and hotly debated, especially north of the border.
—James Mirtle, New York Times, 23 June 2026
Healthcare demand is often inelastic, meaning even in times of dire financial straits, people are still seeking treatment, and companies like UPS and FedEx are wanting to capitalize.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 23 June 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
There’s a lot about wanting to go back in time and change other things in my life.
—Rachel Desantis, PEOPLE, 24 June 2026
Lyles has not given a reason for her resignation beyond wanting to spend more time with her family.
—Mary Ramsey
updated June 22, Charlotte Observer, 23 June 2026
All five of us came through the door wanting control.
—Rob Picheta, CNN Money, 23 June 2026
The port attributed the declines to shippers wanting to unload cargo at a first or second port call to get ahead of any tariff deadlines.
—Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 23 June 2026
The courtroom was packed with heartbroken supporters wanting justice for Jor'Dynn as each woman stood silent in front of the judge.
—Alexa Herrera, CBS News, 23 June 2026
In interviews, Cannelle has spoken about wanting to represent her country and make French cool, and CINNA shines on this front, infusing sounds popularized by the likes of Justice and Yelle with fresh humor and personality.
—Lydia Wei, Pitchfork, 23 June 2026
The whys behind players not wanting to play in Canada are varied and hotly debated, especially north of the border.
—James Mirtle, New York Times, 23 June 2026
Healthcare demand is often inelastic, meaning even in times of dire financial straits, people are still seeking treatment, and companies like UPS and FedEx are wanting to capitalize.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 23 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wanting
Adjective
-
Tom Kim dropped two shots at the wrong time and shot 72.—
Doug Ferguson,
Los Angeles Times,
21 June 2026
-
Every traveler has a trip that went spectacularly wrong.—
Josh Rivera,
USA Today,
21 June 2026
Adjective
-
Of those lacking space, dozens of schools have a solution in place — such as an annex that’s already planned, a capital project that’s already sited, or excess space in a building with several schools that can be reallocated — according to the plan.—
Cayla Bamberger,
New York Daily News,
11 June 2026
-
Coaches and teammates have struggled to remain in contact with him, and AIyuk’s rare social media posts have been both cryptic and lacking clues about his football ambitions.—
Caelyn Pender,
Mercury News,
3 June 2026
Adjective
-
In that case, even absent intra-year distributions to the taxpayer, the dividends appearing in the TP’s account are deemed constructively received when paid by the portfolio companies into the brokerage account.—
Liz Weston,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
21 June 2026
-
Happy Father’s Day to fathers everywhere — birth fathers, stepfathers, adoptive and foster fathers, grandfathers, and all of you caring men who mentor children and fill the role of absent dads.—
Jeanne Phillips,
Mercury News,
21 June 2026
Preposition
-
Gonzalez Gurrola remains in custody without bail at the Sacramento County Main Jail.—
Sean Campbell,
Sacbee.com,
24 June 2026
-
The case challenges the agency’s practice of holding noncitizens for sometimes days in facilities without a bed or other adequate accommodations.—
Michael Loria,
USA Today,
24 June 2026
Verb
-
What’s unclear is whether soccer superfans from Argentina will show up in droves, craving choripan and milanesa.—
Jenna Thompson
June 16,
Kansas City Star,
16 June 2026
-
But there are a few key games those of us already craving for football can’t wait to see.—
Gabriel Burns,
AJC.com,
15 June 2026
Verb
-
Almost all patients required hospitalization, with roughly two-thirds of those admitted needing intensive care.—
Faye Chiu,
CNN Money,
23 June 2026
-
La Celeste face Spain in their group stage finale, needing a positive result to have a chance at advancing.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
22 June 2026
Verb
-
More recently, it’s been revived in its traditional leather form by brands and designers wishing to capture our more casual moment in an elegant format.—
Eric Twardzik,
Robb Report,
22 June 2026
-
The country singer joined the many friends and family wishing the Eyes Wide Shut actress a happy 59th birthday on June 20.—
Lara Walsh,
InStyle,
22 June 2026
Verb
-
Natalie’s politician father-in-law, Doug, only seems to invoke his faith for aesthetics, to flavor his political ambitions to his constituents’ liking.—
Kyley Sitton,
Washington Post,
18 June 2026
-
However, there isn’t necessarily a consistent color for grass between stadiums and broadcasters, meaning pixel-peeping viewers might need to tweak their settings to their own liking for each match .—
Jacob Feldman,
Sportico.com,
12 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Wanting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wanting. Accessed 24 Jun. 2026.
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