WANT Synonyms: 252 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'want' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of want are covet , crave , desire , and wish . While all these words mean "to have a longing for," want specifically suggests a felt need or lack. // wants to have a family

Q: When is it sensible to use 'covet' instead of 'want'?

While the synonyms covet and want are close in meaning, covet implies strong envious desire. // covets his rise to fame

Q: When is 'crave' a more appropriate choice than 'want'?

In some situations, the words crave and want are roughly equivalent. However, crave stresses the force of physical appetite or emotional need. // craves sweets

Q: When might 'desire' be a better fit than 'want'?

Although the words desire and want have much in common, desire stresses the strength of feeling and often implies strong intention or aim. // desires to start a new life

Q: In what contexts can 'wish' take the place of 'want'?

The words wish and want can be used in similar contexts, but wish sometimes implies a general or transient longing especially for the unattainable. // wishes for permanent world peace

want 1 of 2

verb

ˈwȯnt

Definition of want

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

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

as in to wish

to see fit do what you want

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in to like

to wish to have I want some ice cream for dessert, please

Synonyms & Similar Words

want

2 of 2

noun

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

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

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

as in poverty

the state of lacking sufficient money or material possessions grew up in extreme want

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb want differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of want are covet, crave, desire, and wish. While all these words mean "to have a longing for," want specifically suggests a felt need or lack.

wants to have a family

When is it sensible to use covet instead of want?

While the synonyms covet and want are close in meaning, covet implies strong envious desire.

covets his rise to fame

When is crave a more appropriate choice than want?

In some situations, the words crave and want are roughly equivalent. However, crave stresses the force of physical appetite or emotional need.

craves sweets

When might desire be a better fit than want?

Although the words desire and want have much in common, desire stresses the strength of feeling and often implies strong intention or aim.

desires to start a new life

In what contexts can wish take the place of want?

The words wish and want can be used in similar contexts, but wish sometimes implies a general or transient longing especially for the unattainable.

wishes for permanent world peace

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 want

Verb

New Republican leaders will want experienced staff, and the bulk of young people getting that experience are MAGA now. — semafor.com, 21 Oct. 2026 Not everyone wants to sink into their mattress, and for Chapin Rockwell, assistant to AD’s global editorial director, firmer support is a priority. — Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 21 Oct. 2026

Noun

That doesn’t mean that progress is, for want of a better word, fake. — Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 2 Oct. 2026 Put yourself in the perspective of your prospective customer, and create a campaign that taps into their desires and their fears, their wants and their needs. — Ivan Doruda, Forbes.com, 29 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for want

Recent Examples of Synonyms for want

Verb

Sports audiences happen to be growing, as more media outlets crave better reach among audiences watching video in simultaneous fashion.

— Brian Steinberg, Variety, 14 Oct. 2026
But Odysseus, craving road trip tunes after accidentally dropping his mix CDs into Charybdis, must hear their song.

— Sean McGowan, New York Times, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of crave

Verb

Terry Kay liked to tell the story of how he was coerced into writing his first novel by Pat Conroy, who told his literary agent Kay had written a brilliant manuscript.

— Suzanne Van Atten, AJC.com, 18 Oct. 2026
And yet, when CNN Sports asked to speak with people who bet on sports but don’t like prediction markets partnering with sports leagues, teams or athletes themselves, Allison was among the dozens of fans who reached out.

— Hannah Keyser, CNN Money, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of like

Noun

High energy costs, coupled with record exits of foreign investors from its capital markets due to risk aversion and the lack of artificial intelligence play, have kept the rupee under pressure.

— Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 16 Oct. 2026
What should make all hardcore wheelmen and wheelwomen happy is the lack of a huge center screen.

— Caleb Jacobs, The Drive, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of lack

Noun

Musk has repeatedly treated the sports car as a lower priority than Tesla’s other projects, while also blaming supply chain shortages for earlier delays.

— Bilin Lin, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2026
The state prison system experiences chronic staffing shortages of corrections officers, nurses and physicians.

— Jaquelyn Jahn, The Conversation, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of shortage

Noun

If the main predictor of racial disparities in prison is poverty, then denouncing police and prosecutors as racist won't shrink those gaps.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 16 Oct. 2026
The result was 90% of farmers in the country living in poverty with virtually all of them drinking unclean water.

— Adam Duxter, CBS News, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of poverty

Noun

In the documentation, the company is candid about its failings.

— Frank Landymore, Futurism, 14 Oct. 2026
The Army report highlighted how the air traffic controller at Reagan National Airport could have prevented the crash, but also acknowledged the military’s own failings and other contributing factors.

— ABC News, ABC News, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of failing

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Style

“Want.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/want. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of want

verb

noun

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