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Definitions

desire

[dih-zahyuhr] / dɪˈzaɪər /

NOUN

want, longing

Synonyms

STRONGEST

ambition appetite aspiration craving devotion eagerness fascination greed hunger inclination love lust motive need passion thirst will wish yearning

STRONG

admiration ardor attraction avidity concupiscence covetousness craze cupidity doting fancy fervor fondness frenzy hankering infatuation itch lasciviousness lechery libido liking mania predilection proclivity propensity rapaciousness rapture ravenousness relish salacity solicitude urge voracity

Antonyms

STRONGEST

apathy disgust disinterest dislike distaste hate hatred indifference satisfaction

STRONG

antipathy coolness disinclination loathing peacefulness

WEAK

answer antagonism aversion reply repulsion

NOUN

request

Synonyms

STRONGEST

appeal hope wish

STRONG

entreaty importunity petition solicitation supplication want

Antonyms

WEAK

answer antagonism aversion disgust dislike distaste hate hatred reply repulsion

VERB

want, long for

Synonyms

STRONGEST

covet crave long for want

STRONG

desiderate fancy hunger for like lust after pine thirst yearn for

WEAK

aspire to be smitten be turned on by die over fall for give eyeteeth for go for hanker after have eyes for have the hots for make advances to set heart on take a liking to take a shine to take to wish for

Antonyms

STRONGEST

loathe

STRONG

abjure despise reject

WEAK

dislike shun

VERB

ask, request

Synonyms

STRONGEST

seek

STRONG

beg bespeak entreat importune petition solicit

Antonyms

STRONG

answer

WEAK

not want

Usage

What are other ways to say desire? Desire, a formal verb, suggests a strong wish: They desire liberation. Wish implies the feeling of an impulse toward attainment or possession of something; the strength of the feeling may be of greater or lesser intensity: I wish I could go home. Want, usually colloquial in use, suggests a feeling of lack or need that imperatively demands fulfillment: People all over the world want peace.

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.

Wilson clearly desires children to be quiet little automatons, instead of living, complex human beings.

From Salon

Daphne du Maurier described seeing the old boatyard at Bodinnick, near Fowey, for the first time at the age of 19 as: "Here was the freedom I desired, long sought for, not yet known."

From BBC

Edwards added: "It was all set up for a cup upset. We talked a lot about mentality over the past few days and the players showed a real desire to win."

From BBC

And it’s here, over melted cheese and toasted bread, that Ilya admits something far riskier than desire: that he likes Shane.

From Salon

The desire to win on both sides fueled the costly projects.

From The Wall Street Journal

desire

Usage

Example Sentences

Related Words