105+ Synonyms for "Want" with Examples | Another Word for “Want” • 7ESL (2024)

Last updated on June 4, 2024 by Emma Grace

The word ‘want’ is a common term we use to describe a desire or a lack of something. Yet, the richness of English vocabulary provides us with a multitude of synonyms for ‘want,’ each with its own unique shade of meaning, ensuring that our language remains precise and expressive.

Want Synonyms

What Is “Want”?

“Want” is a versatile verb that we use to express a desire or need for something. It’s a common word that surfaces in our everyday language to communicate yearning or lacking.

List of Synonyms for Want

• Desire
• Crave
• Long for
• Yearn for
• Covet
• Wish for
• Hanker for
• Aspire to
• Pine for
• Hunger for
• Thirst for
• Itch for
• Lust after
• Fancy
• Envy
• Seek
• Need
• Require
• Demand
• Hope for
• Aim for
• Dream of
• Would like
• Could do with
• Have a yen for
• Be in need of
• Be after
• Be keen on
• Be partial to
• Be dying for
• Be hankering after
• Be lusting after
• Be pining for
• Be yearning for
• Be hungry for
• Be thirsting for
• Be itching for
• Be coveting
• Be aspiring to
• Be desiring
• Be longing for
• Set one’s heart on
• Sigh for
• Ache for
• Burn for
• Salivate for
• Be bent on
• Have an urge for
• Have one’s heart set on
• Have a craving for
• Have a passion for
• Have a thing for
• Have eyes for
• Have an appetite for
• Have a preference for
• Have a proclivity for
• Have a soft spot for
• Have a taste for
• Have a weakness for
• Have the hots for
• Be wild about
• Be crazy about
• Be mad about
• Be hooked on
• Be smitten with
• Be infatuated with
• Be obsessed with
• Be eager for
• Be ambitious for
• Be gagging for
• Be greedy for
• Be on the lookout for
• Be in the market for
• Be in want of
• Be in pursuit of
• Be on a quest for
• Be aiming for
• Be striving for
• Be wishing for
• Be looking for
• Be wanting
• Be missing
• Be without
• Be deficient in
• Be deprived of
• Be lacking
• Be in quest of
• Be in search of
• Be on the hunt for
• Be out for
• Be wanting in
• Be in dire need of
• Be desperate for
• Be in great need of
• Be crying out for
• Be feeling the lack of
• Be in a big way for
• Be in earnest about
• Be serious about
• Be striving after
• Be going for
• Be into
• Be chasing after
• Be making a beeline for
• Be trying to find

Types of Synonyms for Want

Emotional Desire

• Crave: To have a powerful desire for something.
• Yearn for: To have an intense feeling of longing for something, typically something that one has lost or been separated from.
• Pine for: To suffer a mental and physical decline, especially because of a broken heart.
• Ache for: To feel a strong desire or longing for someone or something.
• Lust after: To have a very strong sexual desire for someone.
• Thirst for: To have a strong desire for something; crave.
• Long for: To desire something very much.
• Hunger for: To have a strong desire or craving for something.
• Covet: To yearn to possess or have something.
• Fancy: To feel a desire or liking for.

Aspiration and Ambition

• Aspire to: To direct one’s hopes or ambitions toward achieving something.
• Dream of: To contemplate the possibility of doing something or that something might be the case.
• Set one’s heart on: To decide that you want something very much.
• Hope for: To want something to happen or to be true, and usually have a good reason to think that it might.
• Seek: To attempt to find something.
• Be bent on: To be determined to do or achieve something.
• Be eager for: Wanting very much to do or have something, especially something interesting or enjoyable.
• Be desperate for: To want or need something very much.

Necessity and Requirement

• Need: Require (something) because it is essential or very important.
• Require: Need for a particular purpose.
• Necessitate: To make something necessary as a result or consequence.
• Demand: To ask for something forcefully, in a way that shows that you do not expect to be refused.
• Call for: To require; demand; need.
• Be in need of: To have a requirement or need for.
• Be short of: To not have enough of something.
• Lack: To be without or deficient in.
• Be deficient in: To not have enough of a specified quality or ingredient.

Common Synonyms for Want

Want vs. Desire

“Want” often implies a basic level of longing or necessity, whereas “desire” carries a sense of deeper, more passionate longing. For instance:

• I really want a cup of coffee in the morning to kick-start my day.
• Her desire to help others led her to a career in social work.

Want vs. Wish

While “want” indicates a stronger intention to obtain something, “wish” conveys a more whimsical or hopeful yearning which might be less driven by intent. Consider the contrast:

• The company wants to expand its operations into the European market.
• I wish I could visit Paris to see the Eiffel Tower someday.

Want vs. Crave

“Crave” suggests an intense, often irresistible urge, usually for a specific object of desire, while “want” is less intense. Here’s how these differ in use:

• The team wants to win the championship and is working hard to improve.
• She craves adventure and the thrill of exploring unknown streets in Paris.

Want vs. Need

“Need” indicates a requirement essential for survival or to achieve a goal, which is more imperative than the more casual “want.” Observe their distinct implications:

• They want to go on a luxury cruise for their vacation
• You need to stay active to maintain your physical fitness and well-being.

Synonyms for Want in Different Contexts

Informal Expressions

When we’re chatting with friends or in a laid-back setting, we often useinformal expressionsto convey our desires. Here are some colloquial alternatives to “want”:

• Crave:“I’m really craving some ice cream.”
• Fancy:“Do you fancy a cup of coffee?”
• Yearn for:“I yearn for the weekends.”
• Dying for:“I’m dying for a vacation.”

Formal Equivalents

In professional or formal scenarios, we opt forformal equivalentsthat are more appropriate in serious or structured environments. Consider these formal synonyms for “want”:

• Desire:“We desire your immediate response.”
• Seek:“They seek your approval for the project.”
• Require:“The position requires a high level of expertise.”
• Request:“We request your presence at the meeting.”

Absolute and Near Synonyms of Want

Absolute Synonyms for Want

Near Synonyms for Want

Synonyms for Want with Examples | Infographic

Frequently Asked Questions

What are alternative words for desire?

We may use words like ‘yearn,’ ‘long,’ ‘aspire,’ or ‘covet’ in place of ‘desire’ to convey a deep sense of want.

What can I use instead of ‘crave’?

Instead of ‘crave,’ we might say ‘hunger for’ or ‘thirst for’ to express a powerful and compelling desire.

Can you provide another term for ‘I want you’?

A term to express ‘I want you’ in another way could be ‘I yearn for you,’ which conveys a deep emotional need.

Which word expresses a strong need or wish for something?

‘Pine’ or ‘ache’ can express a strong need or wish, often with an emotional depth.

How might someone say ‘want’ in a more sophisticated manner?

We may use ‘fancy’ or ‘hanker after’ as sophisticated alternatives to ‘want.’

What is an intense synonym for ‘wanted’?

For an intense synonym of ‘wanted,’ we could choose ‘sought-after’ or ‘in demand.’

Related Links:

• Focus Synonym
• Develop Synonym
• Passion Synonym
• Improve Synonym