The mandatory character of schooling is rarely analyzed in the multitude of works dedicated to the study of the various ways to develop within children the desire to learn.
Source: tatoeba (1623)
Desire
/dɪˈzaɪə/
Synonyms for "desire" (449 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (90)
Noun(19 words)
addressadmirationadorationaffectionagapeaimaim atambitionamorandromaniaanimusanxietyaphrodisiaappealappetenceappetencyappetiteappetitionapplicationapply
Show 48 more words
apply forardencyardoraskask foraskingaspirationaspireaspire afteraspire toassumptionassuranceassured faithattachmentavaricebank onbe afterbe desirous ofbe in heatbeg leavebespeakbiological urgebodily appetitebodily lovebrotherly loveburncall forcaritascarnal desirecatchcharitycheerful expectationchoicechoosechoose tochristian lovecome incommandconationconatusconcupiscenceconfideconfidenceconjugal loveconvictioncounselcount oncovet
Adjective(1 words)
Strong matches (135)
cravecravingcupiditycuriositydearest wishdecidedecisiondecreedemanddependencedesideratedesiderationdesideratumdesideriumdesigndestinedeterminationdeterminedevicedevotion
Show 83 more words
discretiondispositiondoomed hopedrivedrive ateagernesseffectenjoyentreatyenvyeromaniaeroseroticismeroticomaniacerotismerotomaniaestruateexpectexpectationexpressed desirefair prospectfaithfaithful lovefancyfantasyfavorfeelfeel confidentfervent hopefervorfilefile forfixed purposeflamefleshly lustfondnessforbidden fruitfree choicefree lovefree willfree-lovismfunctionfuror uterinusglimmering goalgo forgoadgoatishnessgolden visiongood cheergood hopegrabgrab atgreat expectationsgreedgynecomaniahankerhanker afterhankeringharbor a designharbor the hopehave a mind tohave designs onhave every intentionhearthero worshiphigh hopeshopehope against hopehope and prayhope forhope inhope to godhopeful prognosishopefulnesshopeshopinghoping against hopehorninesshot bloodhot pantshungerhungeringidea
Noun(19 words)
Adjective(1 words)
fancy claim
Related words (224)
idolatryidolismidolizationimpetrationimportuneinclinationindecencyindentinfantile sexualityintendintendmentintentintentionitchitch forjumpjump atlasciviousnesslean uponlecherousness
Show 142 more words
lecherylibidinousnesslibidolickerishnesslikelikinglive in hopeslodestonelonglong forlonginglovelovemakinglustlust afterlustfulnessmagnetmake a requestmake a requisitionmake applicationmaniamarried lovemeanmeaningmindmotiveneednisusnurture the hopenymphomaniaobjectiveorderpantpassionpetitionphysical lovepinepine forpiningplanplatonic lovepleasepleasurepleasure principleplumpointpolymorphous perversitypopular regardpopularityprayerful hopepreferpreferencepresumepresumptionprizeprojectpromiseproposalproposeprospectprospectsprospectuspruriencepruriencypurportpurposeput in forrapacityregardreliancerely onrequestrequirerequirementrequisitionresolutionresolverest assuredrutsakesalaciousnesssanguine expectationsatyriasissatyrismsecuritysee fitsentimentsexsexual desiresexual longingsexual lovesexual passionshinesigh forsnatchsnatch atsolicitspiritspiritual lovestomachstrivingstudysummontake totastetemptationtender feelingtender passionthinkthink fitthink goodthink properthirstthirstingtrophytruelovetrusturgeuxoriousnessvelleityvenereal appetiteviewvolitionvotewantwayweaknesswell-grounded hopewhistle forwillwill powerwishwish forwish fulfillmentwish to goodnesswish very muchworshipwould fain doyearnyearn foryearningyen
Noun(44 words)
Verb(16 words)
Determiner(1 words)
more urging
Adjective(1 words)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: craving, longing, lust, want, yearning.
- Sentence evidence is available for desire, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wiktionary, opengloss, derived_reverse, moby, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "desire".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "desire"
Keep "desire" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "desire" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "desire", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "desire" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
24 entriesShowing 16 of 24 words.
More specific
19 entriesShowing 16 of 19 words.
Collocations
8 entriescultural desiredesire for knowledgedesire for powerhuman desiresexual desiresocial desirestrong desireunfulfilled desire
Inflections
3 entriesDerivations
5 entriesSample sentences
26 total sentences available.
We soon believe what we desire.
Source: tatoeba (20739)
We all desire success.
Source: tatoeba (23125)
My desire to become a doctor grew out of looking after my sickly brother.
Source: tatoeba (28065)
Showing 4 of 26 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "desire"?
Closest matches include craving, longing, lust, want, yearning.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "desire"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.