🚨 Sought after 🤗 Loved or valued

wanted

1.0

A person or thing many people are looking for

adjective
/ˈwɑːntɪd/

: deseado

The stray dog was finally adopted, as it was a wanted companion for many families.
WANTED poster

Examples

This is what I've wanted, one of these back.
Her skills were wanted by several companies looking for a graphic designer.
After years of searching, they found the wanted book that had been out of print.

Synonyms

hoped-for

vswanted

28 3.5

Wanted or expected because people want a good result

is the neutral term for any preference or necessary need

yearned-for

vswanted

14 6.0

Wanted very much for a long time

is more neutral, covering general need or simple preference

longed-for

vswanted

9 5.5

A thing people want and hope for after many years

is broader, not limited to extended waiting or intense feeling

sought-after

vswanted

8 4.1

Wanted by many people and hard to find

is the broad term covering need or casual preference too

sought after

vswanted

5 4.1

Wanted by many people

is a general label not limited to popularity or commercial demand

wished-for

vswanted

4 4.2

Wanted very much and hoped for

is the general term not stressing expectation or positive outcome

coveted

vswanted

1 4.4

Wanted by many people because it is rare or special

is more general, not stressing popularity or social competition

desired

vswanted

2.5

Something that people want very much

is more general, covering need, simple preference, or casual interest

craved

vswanted

3.9

Having a very strong desire for something

is more general, covering ordinary needs or casual preferences

sought

vswanted

3.9

Wanted by many people because it is useful

is the neutral concept covering any preference or necessary need

Antonyms

unwanted

120 1.0

People do not like or need it

unneeded

7 2.3

Not necessary or useful in a situation

Compounds

wanted poster

Formal

11 3.9

A public notice with a photo and details of a person police are looking for

wanted list

7 3.6

A list of people or things someone is looking for

International Wanted Notice

Formal

7.6

An official Interpol notice that asks countries to arrest and send back a person accused of a crime

wanted notice

Formal

5.8

A public message from the police asking people to help find a person for questioning or arrest

How Desired

sought-after

8 4.1

coveted

1 4.4

desired

2.5

wanted

1.0

Surface Forms

wanted positive

Morphology

wanted = want (transparent) = want + ed

A regular adjectival use of the past participle 'want' + '-ed' meaning 'sought after' which learners can derive directly.

Etymology

Wanted comes from the old verb want, which once meant 'to lack' or 'need' and is related to an old Norse word vanta. So a 'wanted' thing or person is one people 'need' or are 'looking for', which is why police put a person on a 'wanted' list when they try to find them.