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Definition of desirous

desirous

/dɪˈzaɪ.ə.ɹəs/
de · sir · ous
Adverb:desirously
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desirous Lexical Profile

desirous Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

Having or characterized by a strong wish or longing for something; eager to obtain or achieve (usually followed by "of" or an infinitive).

Example

"The committee was desirous of reaching a bipartisan agreement before the legislative session ended."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for desirous
Antonyms
View all antonyms for desirous

Word Nuance & Usage

"Desirous" is a formal adjective that is almost always used predicatively and followed by "of" or a to-infinitive (e.g., "desirous of peace"). Do not confuse it with "desirable," which describes something worth wanting rather than someone who feels a desire.

• Rhymes for desirous

• Nearby Words

desire
desired
desirer
desirous
desist
desk
deskbound

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed in Middle English from Anglo-Norman and Old French desiros, derived from desir ("desire"), ultimately from Latin desiderare ("to long for").

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Desirous. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/desirous
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