Another word for want
The best other words for want are wish for, need, lack and desire.
- Most formal
- necessitate, privation, desire
- Strongest
- covet, privation, lust
- Casual
- crave, fancy
- Instead of “really want”
- desire, wish for, need
Want /wɑnt/ (verb, noun): to desire, lack, or need something. In simple words: to feel like having or doing something, or to need something. Below are 22 rated synonyms across 4 senses, plus 27 more related words. Tap a chip for its nuance and an example.
25 synonyms shown
Desire or wish · verb
to desire something; to feel like having or doing it
Need or require · verb
to require something or need it in order to function or succeed
Absence or deficiency · noun
a lack of something needed or desired
Sexual desire · noun
sexual appetite or lust
Find the right strength and register
Drag the amber target to how strong and how formal you need the word to be. The three closest synonyms light up.
You asked for: equal strength, neutral register
- wish for — gentler and more deliberate than want
- long for — strong yearning, often emotional or distant
- yearn for — poetic, sustained desire with emotional weight
The dashed ring marks “want” itself: neutral strength, neutral register.
Synonyms for want in your sentence
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How to choose
Choose a synonym that matches both strength and register: desire and require are the safest formal options, while crave and fancy sound much more natural in casual speech. For the noun meaning of lack, shortage and scarcity are common, but privation is much more literary and severe.
Antonyms of want
- dislike
- abhor
- have
- possess
- abundance
- plenty
- sufficiency
- satisfaction
All synonyms at a glance
| Synonym | Strength | Formality | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| desire | 3/5 | formal | academic, creative |
| wish for | 3/5 | neutral | academic, creative, casual |
| long for | 4/5 | neutral | creative, casual |
| crave | 4/5 | casual | casual, creative |
| yearn for | 4/5 | neutral | creative, academic |
| fancy | 2/5 | casual | casual |
| care for | 2/5 | neutral | casual, business |
| covet | 5/5 | formal | academic, creative |
| need | 3/5 | neutral | academic, business, casual |
| require | 4/5 | formal | academic, business |
| necessitate | 4/5 | academic | academic, business |
| lack | 3/5 | neutral | academic, business, casual |
| demand | 4/5 | neutral | business, academic, casual |
| call for | 4/5 | formal | academic, business |
| be in need of | 3/5 | neutral | academic, business, casual |
| deficiency | 4/5 | formal | academic, business |
| scarcity | 4/5 | formal | academic, business |
| shortage | 4/5 | neutral | business, casual |
| privation | 5/5 | academic | academic, creative |
| lust | 5/5 | neutral | creative, casual |
| passion | 4/5 | neutral | creative, casual |
| appetite | 3/5 | formal | academic, creative |
Instead of “very want”
One precise word usually beats an intensifier. See the full words instead of “very” list.
| Instead of | Try |
|---|---|
| really want | desire, wish for, need |
| want badly | crave, long for, eagerly want |
| want something badly | desperately need, strongly desire, really need |
More words related to want
Looser matches and phrases, unrated. Check the sense before you swap one in, or compare it with “want”.
- hope for
- would like
- be after
- be keen on
- be eager for
- hunger for
- thirst for
- aspire to
- seek
- aim for
- look for
- be interested in
- be fond of
- be partial to
- have a mind to
- be short of
- be deprived of
- dearth
- absence
- inadequacy
- insufficiency
- lackluster
- distress
- hunger
- yearning
- sexual urge
- libido
Questions about synonyms for want
What is the most formal or academic synonym for want?
It depends on the sense. For desire, desire is the most formal neutral choice, and for need or require, necessitate is the most academic or formal, though it is used in specific contexts and not as a general replacement.
What is a stronger synonym for want?
For stronger desire, crave, yearn for, or covet are more forceful than want. Covet is the strongest and most negative, because it often suggests wanting something that belongs to someone else.
What is a milder or more polite alternative to want?
Care for is a mild, polite alternative in offers and invitations, such as Would you care for some tea? Wish for is also gentler and more reflective than want, especially when talking about hopes.
What is a stronger word for want?
For the meaning "desire," stronger choices include "crave," "hunger for," and "long for." For the meaning "need," stronger choices include "require" and "must have."
What can I say instead of want in formal writing?
In formal writing, "desire," "require," or "seek" may fit better, depending on the sense. For a polite or neutral tone, "would like" is often the best choice.