as in appeals
an earnest request
at the delegate's desire, the voice vote on the controversial measure was followed by an actual roll call
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
1
as in craves
to have an earnest wish to own or enjoy
he greatly desired a new mountain bike for his next birthday
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in requests
to make a request for
the host desires a response to the dinner invitation by tomorrow
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of desires
Kyle Denis, Billboard, 11 Feb. 2026
Robbie plays her as someone dazzled by the consequences of her own desires.
—Ana Gutierrez, Austin American Statesman, 11 Feb. 2026
The Kingsbridge Armory is a box big enough to contain a lot of desires.
—Justin Davidson, Curbed, 10 Feb. 2026
Their own personal desires and flaws really hinder them, which is a key to writing great characters.
—Hannah Benson, Los Angeles Times, 10 Feb. 2026
In conversations about narrative, much is made of the importance of characters’ goals and desires.
—Alexandra Romanoff, Vogue, 10 Feb. 2026
Aligning with partners that are on the same page won’t be hard, although our desires are currently evolving and in flux.
—Lisa Stardust, Refinery29, 9 Feb. 2026
One way to think about addiction is as a battle between first- and second-order desires.
—Dhruv Khullar, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026
To try to communicate her desires, the bride used Photoshop to create her own renderings.
—Kaitlin Menza, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Feb. 2026
Robert Kagan, The Atlantic, 18 Jan. 2026
As for Madigan's fellow nominee, Fanning plays Rachel Kemp, an American actress who desires more serious roles, in Norwegian film Sentimental Value.
—Yamillah Hurtado, PEOPLE, 5 Jan. 2026
Anderson's Constance Van Ness, the head of a rich mining family in the frontier town of Angel’s Ridge, desires the silver buried beneath Jasper Hollow, a tract of land partially owned by Headey's headstrong Fiona, a mother to four orphans.
—Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 9 Dec. 2025
Russia desires more strategic territory, while Ukraine has been adamant on security guarantees from Washington and its Western allies to ensure this type of invasion doesn't happen again.
—Brittney Melton, NPR, 21 Nov. 2025
For now, the Royals have quality starting depth that every team desires.
—Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 4 Nov. 2025
Give whoever replaces Grier carte blanche, complete freedom, a blank slate, to do whatever the person desires with the organization.
—Omar Kelly
october 31, Miami Herald, 31 Oct. 2025
Jey has been focused on his singles career, while Jimmy desires a return to their tag team roots.
—Andrew Ravens, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Oct. 2025
Lavrov said that Russia desires peace, despite Russia launching some of its most aggressive strikes against Ukraine in weeks on Thursday.
—Rebecca Schneid, Time, 24 Aug. 2025
Noun
A little over a year later, Trey has officially honored those desires.
—Kyle Denis, Billboard, 11 Feb. 2026
Robbie plays her as someone dazzled by the consequences of her own desires.
—Ana Gutierrez, Austin American Statesman, 11 Feb. 2026
The Kingsbridge Armory is a box big enough to contain a lot of desires.
—Justin Davidson, Curbed, 10 Feb. 2026
Their own personal desires and flaws really hinder them, which is a key to writing great characters.
—Hannah Benson, Los Angeles Times, 10 Feb. 2026
In conversations about narrative, much is made of the importance of characters’ goals and desires.
—Alexandra Romanoff, Vogue, 10 Feb. 2026
Aligning with partners that are on the same page won’t be hard, although our desires are currently evolving and in flux.
—Lisa Stardust, Refinery29, 9 Feb. 2026
One way to think about addiction is as a battle between first- and second-order desires.
—Dhruv Khullar, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026
To try to communicate her desires, the bride used Photoshop to create her own renderings.
—Kaitlin Menza, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Feb. 2026
Verb
Trump’s National Security Strategy focuses intensely on the Western Hemisphere, at the expense of Asia, and the administration ardently desires a trade deal and strategic coordination with Beijing.
—Robert Kagan, The Atlantic, 18 Jan. 2026
As for Madigan's fellow nominee, Fanning plays Rachel Kemp, an American actress who desires more serious roles, in Norwegian film Sentimental Value.
—Yamillah Hurtado, PEOPLE, 5 Jan. 2026
Anderson's Constance Van Ness, the head of a rich mining family in the frontier town of Angel’s Ridge, desires the silver buried beneath Jasper Hollow, a tract of land partially owned by Headey's headstrong Fiona, a mother to four orphans.
—Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 9 Dec. 2025
Russia desires more strategic territory, while Ukraine has been adamant on security guarantees from Washington and its Western allies to ensure this type of invasion doesn't happen again.
—Brittney Melton, NPR, 21 Nov. 2025
For now, the Royals have quality starting depth that every team desires.
—Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 4 Nov. 2025
Give whoever replaces Grier carte blanche, complete freedom, a blank slate, to do whatever the person desires with the organization.
—Omar Kelly
october 31, Miami Herald, 31 Oct. 2025
Jey has been focused on his singles career, while Jimmy desires a return to their tag team roots.
—Andrew Ravens, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Oct. 2025
Lavrov said that Russia desires peace, despite Russia launching some of its most aggressive strikes against Ukraine in weeks on Thursday.
—Rebecca Schneid, Time, 24 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for desires
Noun
-
Supreme Court has been receptive to Trump's appeals The court – which has a 6-3 conservative majority − has been overwhelmingly receptive to Trump’s appeals of challenges to his actions as president, often allowing controversial policies to move forward while they’re being litigated.—
Maureen Groppe,
USA Today,
5 Feb. 2026
-
This travel style appeals to those who value relaxation above all else.—
Jacqueline Dole,
Travel + Leisure,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The Colts’ Alec Pierce, who’s got the kind of size (6-foot-3) that Payton craves, is also hitting the market after his first 1,000-yard campaign.—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Instagram craves visual stories.—
Jodie Cook,
Forbes.com,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The memo also requests a $150,000 council allocation to fund software and other infrastructural costs tied to implementing the redistricting and officer redeployment.—
Robert Salonga,
Mercury News,
10 Feb. 2026
-
The motion was filed under Rule 41(g) of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure and also requests the court to unseal the affidavit used to justify the warrant.—
La'Tasha Givens,
CBS News,
6 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
In the days following her abduction, the NBC anchor and her siblings have issued various emotional pleas for her return, offering to pay after unverified ransom notes were sent to several media organizations.—
Edward Segarra,
USA Today,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Last year, Rivera hired a new attorney, Matt Fakhoury, a former Cook County prosecutor himself, who made pleas to Demacopoulos and her successor, Craig Engebretson, to further investigate whether charges could be filed.—
Madeline Buckley,
Chicago Tribune,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
New York's new socialist mayor wants to tax corporations and wealthy New Yorkers to finance the city's $12 billion budget deficit.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
11 Feb. 2026
-
The big question might end up being how long Lutnick, who doesn’t exactly need the job of commerce secretary, wants to remain a punching bag — especially with Democrats favored to win control of the House later this year.—
Shelby Talcott,
semafor.com,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Separated by time and space, the two statements are alike in their linking of drug trafficking with terrorism, a strategy that seeks to conflate public security measures with the fight against politically motivated violence.—
Evandro Cruz Silva,
The Dial,
10 Feb. 2026
-
In a previous role at the department, Hatch helped develop the Hope Florida program, which seeks to get Floridians off government aid by sending them, in part, to churches.—
Alexandra Glorioso,
Miami Herald,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Please continue to keep James’s wife and loved ones in your thoughts and prayers.—
Carly Thomas,
HollywoodReporter,
12 Feb. 2026
-
My thoughts and prayers go out to his 6 kids, his wife and family!—
Edward Segarra,
USA Today,
11 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Desires.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/desires. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
