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
-
And it’s been even harder for my daughter, Piper, who never did anything wrong.—
CT Jones,
Rolling Stone,
10 Apr. 2025
-
However, the new price on the OnePlus store is about 50 percent higher, putting OnePlus on the wrong side of devices like the Pixel Watch and Apple Watch.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
10 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
The leonine Huston men, however, remained mostly absent from her early life—Huston’s grandfather had died shortly before her birth, while her father spent large periods of the year traveling and working on films from The Barbarian and the Geisha to The Misfits.—
Erik Morse,
Vogue,
15 Apr. 2025
-
Songs from her 2013 album Artpop, Joanne from 2016, 2020’s Chromatica and Harlequin from last year were noticeably absent.—
Marina Watts,
People.com,
15 Apr. 2025
Preposition
-
Executive director Nick Turner told the Bangor Daily News the show hoped to have other characters on stage reference the two Black characters the musical is missing without showing the pair, but was warned that altering the musical’s licensed script would constitute a contract violation .—
Brian Niemietz,
New York Daily News,
8 Apr. 2025
-
So, if 2021-22 was one period and 2023-24 was another, a team could win three or more playoff games between the 2022-23 seasons without losing the waiver.—
Steve Millar,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Apr. 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
-
Forcing Americans and small independent American companies to rely on those same tools is an unacceptable outcome of domestic legislation.—
Emma Woollacott,
Forbes.com,
7 Apr. 2025
-
Defense stocks were once considered socially unacceptable investments, but fund managers are slowly changing tack as the sector has rallied in recent years.—
Sawdah Bhaimiya,
CNBC,
7 Apr. 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
-
Sheet Pan Chicken Fajita Quesadillas These sheet pan chicken fajita quesadillas are a hassle-free way to make a crowd-pleasing meal without standing over the stove.—
Elizabeth Fogarty,
Better Homes & Gardens,
8 Apr. 2025
-
Instead, lean into what feels good, and if that’s pleasing your boo above all else, that may tell you something.—
Quispe López,
Them,
13 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
But mid-majors with double-digit seeds are worth enjoying on occasion.—
Joe Rexrode,
The Athletic,
24 Mar. 2025
-
The rabbi was sitting in the back of his church, wearing his yarmulke, during Sherman’s first Christmas Eve service about 20 years ago, enjoying the music.—
Lois K. Solomon,
Sun Sentinel,
24 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Wanting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wanting. Accessed 20 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share