wanting
wanting Lexical Profile
wanting Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
Not meeting required standards or expectations; deficient in quality, skill, or character.
"The committee reviewed the safety protocols and found them seriously wanting."
Lacking in a certain required or necessary element; not present or available.
"The engine was in good condition, with only a few minor replacement bolts wanting."
• preposition
In the absence of; without or less.
"Wanting any clear evidence to the contrary, the board approved the original proposal."
Word Nuance & Usage
As an adjective meaning 'deficient' or 'absent,' 'wanting' is used almost exclusively in the predicate position (e.g., 'his effort was found wanting' rather than 'a wanting effort').
• Rhymes for wanting
Word Origin & Etymology
Derived from the present participle of Middle English 'wanten' ('to be lacking'), which came from Old Norse 'vanta' ('to lack, need'). This older sense of deficiency survives in the adjective and preposition even though the verb 'want' shifted primarily to mean 'desire'.