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.

With the yen still undervalued, Ueda’s comments about a potential rate hike were creating a desire by some investors to rebuild long positions in Japan’s currency, according to Tenengauzer.

From MarketWatch

She expressed a desire for more wriggle room in the spreadsheets against her self-imposed fiscal rules – so-called "headroom".

From BBC

The pain receded and the desire to play cricket returned.

From BBC

“Even if it’s not your stated demographic or your desired demographic, you still have to pay attention to this generation because of the influence that they’re having,” she said.

From The Wall Street Journal

Studies of the effectiveness of the opt-out laws in England and Wales have found the ambition of the policies have "not had the desired impact in practice".

From BBC

desire

Usage

Example Sentences

Related Words