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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in poverty
the state of lacking sufficient money or material possessions
grew up in extreme want
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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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
-
Choose low-salt snacks: Lower-sodium snack options, like unsalted nuts or plain popcorn, can help satisfy a salt craving and offer more nutrition than salty chips.14 Expand your seasonings: Use herbs and spices to flavor your meals without table salt.—
Chelsea Rae Bourgeois,
Health,
5 June 2025
-
Anecdotal evidence suggests that people taking these drugs could be suddenly drawn to sugary perfumes and scents, possibly even craving them.—
Khloe Quill,
FOXNews.com,
5 June 2025
Verb
-
Parker Posey needed to prove herself all over again when making the jump from indie films to Hollywood productions.—
Jack Dunn,
Variety,
4 June 2025
-
The robot that extruded concrete for Tor Alva, for example, applies the substance only where needed, resulting in hollow columns that significantly reduce material consumption.—
Leslie Katz,
Forbes.com,
4 June 2025
Verb
-
While entry is free, anyone who wishes to camp or go off-roading or ATVing in the area will need to pay $5 per day or get a $30 season pass.—
Lydia Mansel,
Southern Living,
7 June 2025
-
Up against the third-best team from Morocco last season, Wydad AC, and United Arab Emirates’ fifth-strongest force for the same campaign, Al Ain, there are plenty of Davids for Goliath fans to wish ill upon.—
Jordan Campbell,
New York Times,
7 June 2025
Verb
-
All the evidence says that, yes, he was liked and respected by his team-mates at all his clubs.—
Stuart James,
New York Times,
6 June 2025
-
Shortstop Francisco Lindor doesn’t like taking days off, which leaves Brett Baty, Jeff McNeil and Luisangel Acuña to battle for at-bats at second base.—
Abbey Mastracco,
New York Daily News,
5 June 2025
Noun
-
Temple students have criticized the center’s lack of visibility on campus, its initiatives largely unknown to them.—
Robert Schmad,
The Washington Examiner,
6 June 2025
-
Workers with a college degree still fare better on the job hunt than those without one, but the lack of movement for those that are currently employed are making backfill positions more and more limited.—
Solcyré Burga,
Time,
6 June 2025
Noun
-
At the time Volkswagen was the first automaker to warn of a global chip shortage.—
Steve Banker,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2025
-
The rights of property owners aren’t always given the appropriate amount of respect, especially in a time of housing shortages and rising rents.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
30 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
-
Those who qualify have income at or below four times the federal poverty level of $32,150 for a family of four or have medical debt that is 5% or more of their income.—
Staff report,
Hartford Courant,
22 May 2025
Noun
-
Other criminals who commit violent acts are perhaps more at ease with their moral failings.—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
3 June 2025
-
The military, which has ruled Pakistan for much of the country’s history, has long used hostility toward India to deflect from its own failings.—
AQIL SHAH,
Foreign Affairs,
23 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Want.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/want. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.
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