wanting

[won-ting, wawn-] / ˈwɒn tɪŋ, ˈwɔn- /

ADJECTIVE

lacking, inadequate

Synonyms

STRONGEST

deficient unfulfilled

STRONG

absent bankrupt cooked deprived disappointing empty failing gone missing needed omitted scant short shy

WEAK

away bereft burned out cut off defective destitute devoid faulty half-baked imperfect in default incomplete inferior less minus not good enough not up to par out of gas patchy poor scanty scarce sketchy substandard too little too late unsound

Antonyms

STRONG

adequate enough existing present sufficient

WEAK

perfect satisfactory

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Wanting to help people, he said, “is something they carry in their hearts.”

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 27, 2026

Wanting Charlie Kirk to shut up wasn’t the same as wanting him dead.

From Salon • May 8, 2026

Wanting to keep the widget but not the ads, the 49-year-old in Edgewater, Md., made sure his home router’s ad-blocking software extended to his fridge.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 23, 2026

Wanting to speak to others going through the same experience, Lauren started an Instagram page to raise awareness and document her journey.

From BBC • Mar. 13, 2026

Wanting to play with toys and wanting to be grown up all at the same time.

From "Out of My Mind" by Sharon M. Draper

Vocabulary lists containing wanting

Nobody's Home: Synonyms For "Absent"

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Absent

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Lacking

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