Cool MateDesired vs My heart has greatly desired this vs Wanted
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Desired
My heart has greatly desired this
Wanted
| Desired | My heart has greatly desired this | Wanted | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //dɪˈzaɪəd//🇺🇸 //dɪˈzaɪərd// | 🇬🇧 //maɪ hɑːt hæz ˈɡreɪtli dɪˈzaɪəd ðɪs//🇺🇸 //maɪ hɑrt hæz ˈɡreɪtli dɪˈzaɪərd ðɪs// | 🇬🇧 //ˈwɒntɪd//🇺🇸 //ˈwɑːntɪd// |
| Meaning | wanted or wished for | I really want this very much. | Something that someone desires or seeks. |
| Example | The results are finally the desired outcome. | After years of waiting, my heart has greatly desired this moment. | The missing child was on every 'wanted' poster in the city. |
| Register | Neutral | Formal | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Beyond 10,000 (less common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| Collocations | desired effect, desired result, desired outcome | greatly desired goal, greatly desired outcome, greatly desired blessing | wanted criminals, wanted list, wanted poster, wanted features |
| Antonyms | undesired, unwanted | dislike, reject | unwanted, undesirable, rejected |
| Common mistakes | 'Desire' vs 'desired' confusion - 'desire' is a verb, 'desired' is an adjective., Using 'desired' with incorrect subjects - 'the results are desired' instead of 'the results are wanted.', Mixing up with 'wish' - 'I desired something' sounds awkward; use 'I wanted something.' | Misuse 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 notes | Use 'desired' to express something you want. Suitable in both formal and informal contexts but may sound formal in casual conversation. | Used 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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Frequently asked questions: Desired vs My heart has greatly desired this vs Wanted
What's the difference between Desired, My heart has greatly desired this, and Wanted?
Desired: wanted or wished for My heart has greatly desired this: I really want this very much. Wanted: Something that someone desires or seeks.
Which is more formal: Desired, My heart has greatly desired this, and Wanted?
My heart has greatly desired this is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: Desired, My heart has greatly desired this, and Wanted?
Wanted is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Desired: The results are finally the desired outcome. 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 Desired, My heart has greatly desired this, and Wanted interchangeably?
Not always. Desired, 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.