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desire

[dih-zahyuhr] / dɪˈzaɪər /




VERB
ask, request
Synonyms
Antonyms
STRONG
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.

Ahmed: It wasn’t so much out of a kind of frustration or a desire to create work for myself or break out of a pigeonhole or anything like that.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 11, 2026

Indonesia began enforcing its own social media ban for users under the age of 16 in March, while several European governments have announced their desire to make similar moves.

From Barron's • Jun. 10, 2026

The film is a distinctly modern rumination on the desire to shut off and watch the world go by, without forming an opinion on the horrors.

From Salon • Jun. 10, 2026

It’s also born from a desire on the state’s part to collect as many people’s lawful votes as possible.

From Slate • Jun. 9, 2026

“I am in receipt of a letter,” Penelope pressed on, for she had no desire to hear about Lady Ashton’s marital woes, or anyone else’s for that matter.

From "The Hidden Gallery" by Maryrose Wood




Vocabulary lists containing desire


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