desideratum

noun

Definition of desideratumnext
as in must
formal something that is needed or wanted a list of political desiderata

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of desideratum Coel signs on as McKellen’s assistant; shifts in desiderata and allegiance ensue. — Emma Allen, New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2026 Diversity isn’t necessarily an ethical desideratum in a collection. — New York Times, 28 Sep. 2021 Remaining at home is invariably the desideratum for most among the elderly, and this includes the wish to die at home. — Joseph Epstein, WSJ, 17 Jan. 2020 Some of the author costs are used to pay reviewers, causing one to question whether the process is always unbiased, as is the desideratum. — Neuroskeptic, Discover Magazine, 4 Apr. 2015
Recent Examples of Synonyms for desideratum
  1. must
  2. requirement
  3. wish
  4. condition
Noun
  • Both also pride themselves in downfield blocking, a must for a team coached by a former receivers coach.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 14 Oct. 2026
  • For Olivia Allen, the second rotation of Ana Viktoria Dzinic’s solo at Nicoletti in Shoreditch—which coincides with a solo booth over at Frieze London—is a must.
    — Mahoro Seward, Vogue, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of must
Noun
  • However, the bill would also preempt certain state requirements covering public risk disclosures, independent evaluations, and critical incident reporting.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2026
  • The legislation enacts new work requirements and greater vetting for Medicaid, the low-income program that thousands of Alaskans depend on for healthcare.
    — Matthew Choi The Washington Post, Arkansas Online, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of requirement
Noun
  • My irritation was not with the charge itself but with how some of the commentaries about it invoked as evidence Vance’s wish to be buried in the country graveyard where generations of his ancestors already rest.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2026
  • It’s led creatives to walk a tricky line between the wish to experiment with AI and the havoc disclosing its use can wreak.
    — Corbin Bolies, Variety, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of wish
Noun
  • The Singapore Shipping Association also played down the prospect of a broad withdrawal of commercial shipping from the region, suggesting operators would instead adapt to changing trade conditions.
    — Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 16 Oct. 2026
  • The team also evaluated methods for attaching sensors to storage casks, with the aim of developing installations capable of remaining in place for years under high-temperature and high-radiation conditions.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of condition

Browse Nearby Words

desiderations
desideratum
design
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Cite this Entry

“Desideratum.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/desideratum. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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