My heart has greatly desired this vs Wanted

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

My heart has greatly desired this

FormalBeyond 10,000 (less common)

Wanted

Top 1,000 (very common)
Most formal: My heart has greatly desired thisMost common: Wanted
 My heart has greatly desired thisWanted
Pronunciation🇬🇧 //maɪ hɑːt hæz ˈɡreɪtli dɪˈzaɪəd ðɪs//🇺🇸 //maɪ hɑrt hæz ˈɡreɪtli dɪˈzaɪərd ðɪs//🇬🇧 //ˈwɒntɪd//🇺🇸 //ˈwɑːntɪd//
MeaningI really want this very much.Something that someone desires or seeks.
ExampleAfter years of waiting, my heart has greatly desired this moment.The missing child was on every 'wanted' poster in the city.
RegisterFormalNeutral
How commonBeyond 10,000 (less common)Top 1,000 (very common)
Collocationsgreatly desired goal, greatly desired outcome, greatly desired blessingwanted criminals, wanted list, wanted poster, wanted features
Antonymsdislike, rejectunwanted, undesirable, rejected
Common mistakesMisuse in casual conversation, making it sound too serious., Confusion with simpler expressions like 'I really want this'.Confusing 'want' as a verb and 'wanted' as a past participle., Using 'want' instead of 'wanted' for past tense situations., 'Wanted' is often misused with a plural subject.
Usage notesUsed in poetic or literary contexts. Not commonly used in everyday conversation. May sound overly dramatic in casual settings.Use 'wanted' to express desire or need. It's suitable for formal or informal contexts but can sound slightly dramatic in casual conversation.

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My heart has greatly desired this
Wanted

Frequently asked questions: My heart has greatly desired this vs Wanted

What's the difference between My heart has greatly desired this and Wanted?

My heart has greatly desired this: I really want this very much. Wanted: Something that someone desires or seeks.

Which is more formal: My heart has greatly desired this and Wanted?

My heart has greatly desired this is the most formal of these.

Which is more common: My heart has greatly desired this and Wanted?

Wanted is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

My heart has greatly desired this: After years of waiting, my heart has greatly desired this moment. Wanted: The missing child was on every 'wanted' poster in the city.

Can I use My heart has greatly desired this and Wanted interchangeably?

Not always. My heart has greatly desired this and Wanted are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.

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