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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.

"He never tired of talking about the group's history and its desire to spread 'peace, love and harmony' everywhere people had ears to listen."

From BBC • Apr. 6, 2026

Throughout history, he added, the Christian mission “has not infrequently been distorted by a desire for domination, entirely foreign to the way of Jesus Christ.”

From Salon • Apr. 5, 2026

The changes stemmed in part from a desire to help disabled veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan with conditions such as PTSD.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 5, 2026

Sax argues, “That desire fits this very base desire as humans, which is to touch things, to interact with things, to buy things, to do actual things outside of our screens.”

From Slate • Apr. 4, 2026

The four of them made their way up, Molly pulling up a still-restless Anat, who was struggling with an overwhelming desire to tear into Boaz.

From "Night Owls" by A.R. Vishny