1
as in to impose
to offer (something fake, useless, or inferior) as genuine, useful, or valuable
despite my protestations, the dreaded position of club secretary was wished on me
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in to please
to see fit
you're free to sit wherever you wish
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in request
Related 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 wish
Hali Smith
march 31, Idaho Statesman, 31 Mar. 2026
Fans who no longer wished to attend were offered the option to claim a refund.
—Jessica Lynch, Billboard, 30 Mar. 2026
Meghan O'Brien, NBC news, 23 Mar. 2026
Her final wish is to be laid to rest at Forest Lawn Cemetery, but after more than 15 years of fighting Parkinson’s, her finances are exhausted.
—Carmel Dagan, Variety, 23 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for wish
Verb
Want to wish on a shooting star?
—Hali Smith
march 31, Idaho Statesman, 31 Mar. 2026
Fans who no longer wished to attend were offered the option to claim a refund.
—Jessica Lynch, Billboard, 30 Mar. 2026
Noun
But for the second year in a row, Jeanie’s not around to blow out birthday candles or make a birthday wish.
—Meghan O'Brien, NBC news, 23 Mar. 2026
Her final wish is to be laid to rest at Forest Lawn Cemetery, but after more than 15 years of fighting Parkinson’s, her finances are exhausted.
—Carmel Dagan, Variety, 23 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for wish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wish
Verb
-
The state’s elder protection law, Section 415 of the Florida Statutes, allows adult protection workers to impose their own judgment on elders’ cases and place clients without court supervision.—
Carol Marbin Miller,
Miami Herald,
2 Apr. 2026
-
This means union officials cannot impose contract provisions that require workers to pay money to the union as a condition of getting or keeping a job, according to the foundation.—
Chase Jordan
April 2,
Charlotte Observer,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Bully feels custom-designed to please the diehards exhausted by his noxious antics.—
Kieran Press-Reynolds,
Pitchfork,
1 Apr. 2026
-
This time around, under Rupert Goold’s actor-forward direction and with Guirgis’s distinctive voiciness, the story has more in common with the canine of its title — there’s a little more swagger, sweetness, and slobber, a little more desire to please.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Cator Ruma did not respond to the Idaho Statesman’s request for a comment or interview.—
Sally Krutzig,
Idaho Statesman,
1 Apr. 2026
-
The appeals court denied the request, and the public defender’s client, Kyle Kjoller, was ultimately convicted on several felony firearms charges.—
Sharon Bernstein,
Sacbee.com,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
There is also a growing body of credible evidence showing how EdTech inflicts emotional, cognitive, physical, and developmental harms on children, adolescents, and young adults, while displacing the human relationships that are essential to healthy human development and well-being.—
Dr. Timothy Scott,
Hartford Courant,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Moss rejected that position, finding that the order nevertheless inflicted concrete harm and violated constitutional protections.—
Gabe Whisnant,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Last year, new college graduates wanted remote, high-paying jobs that aligned with their values.—
Rachel Barber,
USA Today,
3 Apr. 2026
-
Michaels, who traveled to the Capitol last year to press for the files’ release, wanted Bondi gone.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
3 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Sports, after all, can be a vehicle for shaping our values and expressing our desires.—
Louisa Thomas,
New Yorker,
5 Apr. 2026
-
As the war in Iran rages on, both rising oil prices and consumers’ decreasing desire to jet-set in uncertain times hang like a dark cloud over the industry, threatening to upend air travel across the world.—
Nicole Hoey,
Robb Report,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Then came choosing the second pick, and so on.—
Louisa Thomas,
New Yorker,
5 Apr. 2026
-
Virgo August 23 – September 22 When your identity wrestles with the group’s expectations, choose depth.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
5 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Parents said the historical significance of the moment made attending the watch party a must.—
Samantha Chaney,
CBS News,
2 Apr. 2026
-
If your family is gathering for Easter brunch, cheese grits are a must.—
Mary Shannon Wells,
Southern Living,
1 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Wish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wish. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
