desideratum
Something urgently wanted
A desideratum is something wanted or needed—typically something considered essential for completeness or success.
The word appears in formal or academic contexts: A reliable water supply was the chief desideratum for the settlement.
Often used in the plural, desiderata, to list requirements or goals: Among the desiderata for the position were fluency in two languages and overseas experience.
Required prior condition
- necessityIndispensable requirement
- requisiteSomething absolutely needed
- essentialFundamentally necessary
- must-haveIndispensable thing
precondition · stipulation · condition · criterion · specification · qualification · mandate · imperative
Absence of any fault
- paragonFlawless model to emulate
- epitomePerfect representative of type
- exemplarTypical perfect instance
- archetypeOriginal model for copies
benchmark · model · pinnacle · gold standard · optimum · ne plus ultra · nonpareil · quintessence
Purpose or goal
- aimPurpose or direction
- targetObject of pursuit
- endFinal portion or cessation
- purposeReason something exists
ambition · intention · outcome · milestone · deliverable · endpoint · endgame · destination
Deficiency or absence
- gapUnfilled space between
- deficiencyLack of something needed
- shortfallFailure to reach quota
- absenceState of not being
void · need · vacuum · missing piece · omission · scarcity · dearth · insufficiency
prerequisite
Required prior condition
- necessityIndispensable requirement
- requisiteSomething absolutely needed
- essentialFundamentally necessary
must-have · precondition · stipulation · condition · criterion · specification · qualification · mandate · imperative · obligation
perfection
Absence of any fault
- paragonFlawless model to emulate
- epitomePerfect representative of type
- exemplarTypical perfect instance
archetype · benchmark · model · pinnacle · gold standard · optimum · ne plus ultra · nonpareil · quintessence · apotheosis
objective
Purpose or goal
purpose · ambition · intention · outcome · milestone · deliverable · endpoint · endgame · destination · finish line
lack
Deficiency or absence
- gapUnfilled space between
- deficiencyLack of something needed
- shortfallFailure to reach quota
absence · void · need · vacuum · missing piece · omission · scarcity · dearth · insufficiency · deficit
desideratumsuperfluity
Excessive amount beyond necessity
luxury · nonessential · inessential · dispensable · expendable
desideratumanathema
Intensely detested thing
undesirable · abomination · aversion · bête noire · disqualifier
desideratumpossession
State of owning
given · surplus · encumbrance · burden · deadweight