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
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 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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wanting
Adjective
-
The question of the night is the choice between selling out their souls to the vapid American tourists at the Tropicana nightclub (bad) or singing for their own people on the wrong side of the tracks (good).—
Chris Jones,
New York Daily News,
20 Mar. 2025
-
But Nicol isn’t wrong to think that the real entertainment is coming from inside the house, where the spry Gita may love nothing more than to be on camera.—
Stephen Saito,
Variety,
19 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
As the biggest event of the PGA Tour calendar gets underway on Thursday at The PLAYERS Championship, some of golf's biggest stars are absent from the proceedings.—
Faisal Kutty,
Newsweek,
12 Mar. 2025
-
Cornelius said Alex has been absent from school since Feb. 18, when she was originally informed of an unknown incident in his classroom.—
Lina Ruiz,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
12 Mar. 2025
Preposition
-
Two top-four teams in the Western Conference will battle for playoff positioning as the Denver Nuggets (42-24) play host to the Los Angeles Lakers (40-24), who will be without LeBron James yet again.—
Mark Davis,
Newsweek,
15 Mar. 2025
-
Create a safe space for your child to share their feelings without judgment.—
Sherri Gordon,
Parents,
14 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
That is the difference-making play the Senators have been craving in net, and it’s helped push them into the playoff race.—
Shayna Goldman,
The Athletic,
31 Dec. 2024
-
Bal Harbor Shops is creating experiences, which is what Millennials, who wield the wallet power today, are craving.—
Sharon Edelson,
Forbes,
25 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
But for a lot of people following Markle's every move anything other than perfection is unacceptable.—
Alanna Bennett,
refinery29.com,
14 Mar. 2025
-
But this false choice that some are buying instead of fighting is unacceptable.—
Mark Davis,
Newsweek,
14 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
California's Regulatory Actions California revised its Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) targets, now requiring that 60% of electricity be generated from renewable sources by 2030, as a step towards its 2045 goal of 100% clean energy.—
Robert Rapier,
Forbes,
24 Dec. 2024
-
In Florida, Our Children’s Trust brought its latest case because there still are provisions in the law requiring state agencies to prioritize renewable energy, Rodgers said.—
Amy Green,
Orlando Sentinel,
24 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
Turn French toast into a crowd-pleasing casserole in this easy to make casserole that even the kids can help prepare.—
Krissy Tiglias,
Southern Living,
3 Jan. 2025
-
Transform olive oil and herbs into a company-pleasing bread dipping oil in five minutes or less.—
Abigail Wilt,
Southern Living,
30 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
Many have shared their successes, cutting from clips of them consuming grapes, to shots of them enjoying a great year.—
George Monastiriakos,
Newsweek,
31 Dec. 2024
-
For now, however, the locker room is enjoying the feeling of winning for the first time in more than 10 weeks.—
Charlotte Carroll,
The Athletic,
30 Dec. 2024
Articles Related to wanting
Cite this Entry
“Wanting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wanting. Accessed 22 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share