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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of want
Kirsten Chuba, HollywoodReporter, 26 Oct. 2025
If somebody makes a play, then that makes somebody else on the defense want to make a play.
—Doug Kyed, Boston Herald, 26 Oct. 2025
Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 22 Sep. 2025
The success of the first year’s program proved there is both a tremendous want and a need for this event.
—Clayton Davis, Variety, 19 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for want
Verb
After such a transformative experience, does that change what Sweeney — who has The Housemaid and the third season of Euphoria coming up — wants to do next?
—Kirsten Chuba, HollywoodReporter, 26 Oct. 2025
If somebody makes a play, then that makes somebody else on the defense want to make a play.
—Doug Kyed, Boston Herald, 26 Oct. 2025
Noun
Themes of beauty and harmony are top of mind, and your home is mirroring your wants and needs.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 22 Sep. 2025
The success of the first year’s program proved there is both a tremendous want and a need for this event.
—Clayton Davis, Variety, 19 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for want
Recent Examples of Synonyms for want
Verb
-
By making more gummies and less chocolate, candy companies appeal to those sugar- craving customers while saving their profit margins.—
Ramishah Maruf,
CNN Money,
26 Oct. 2025
-
Arsenal had already won 4-1 at Selhurst Park that season, but their title defence was stuttering and manager George Graham craved more firepower.—
Matt Woosnam,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Women aged 18–50 need about 25-28 grams of fiber per day, while men aged 18–50 need about 31-34 grams.—
Merve Ceylan,
Health,
29 Oct. 2025
-
Unlike laminate or marble, granite countertops need to be cleaned in a specific way to prevent any damage.—
Daley Quinn,
Southern Living,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Following Voigt’s resignation, the Miss USA organization thanked Voigt for her time in the role and wished her well in a statement obtained by PEOPLE.—
Zoey Lyttle,
PEOPLE,
25 Oct. 2025
-
The picture book is both written and illustrated by Knightley, 40, who tells a whimsical story about a young girl that wishes her new baby sister would be carried away by birds.—
Patrick Ryan,
USA Today,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
There’s a lot to like about the way the Sabres have played, though.—
Matthew Fairburn,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
-
Choi likes to precut carrots, celery, onions and fennel.—
Malaka Gharib,
NPR,
25 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
But the mob’s relative lack of visibility does not mean it’s gone away.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
25 Oct. 2025
-
Barcelona used a mix of zonal and man-marking but struggled when teams exploited their comparalative lack of height and physicality by using players in motion.—
Anantaajith Raghuraman,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
But as Kimmel shared with Danson, 77, things weren't easy in the beginning due to a shortage of star power.—
Brenton Blanchet,
PEOPLE,
22 Oct. 2025
-
However, the number of foreign residents has risen sharply in recent years, reaching a record 3 percent of the population in 2024, as Tokyo cautiously loosened visa requirements for workers in key industries facing labor shortages amid a declining birth rate and aging workforce.—
Micah McCartney,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Nardal’s articles also grappled with other pressing issues of the day, including violence and poverty.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
22 Oct. 2025
-
Arrivals of asylum-seekers and other migrants fleeing conflict and poverty in the Middle East and Africa for Europe over the past decade helped fuel rising far-right populism and led to stricter border controls that have drawn heavy criticism from human rights groups.—
Sam McNeil,
Fortune,
22 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
One of the big failings that happens in a lean transformation is when senior management doesn’t take on that responsibility of leading and teaching.—
Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson,
semafor.com,
24 Oct. 2025
-
The Wolves turned the ball over 19 times in an effort that was reminiscent of their Western Conference Finals failings against Oklahoma City.—
Jace Frederick,
Twin Cities,
23 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Want.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/want. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
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