Words / B2

di-ZEYE-uh-r-uh-bl/dɪˈzaɪərəbl/

Desirable means wanted because it is useful, attractive, or worth having: a desirable outcome; desirable to. Attractive is a close twin for places; advantageous is a close twin for policy. A desirable outcome still needs a named criterion. Mix-up: desirable vs desired; desire as a noun; do not write desirable for a slogan “must-have” with no criterion.

Meaning

Wanted because it is useful, attractive, or worth having.

Examples

• “A desirable outcome still needs a named criterion, the evaluation said.”
• “A desirable residence in the census is still not a sampling frame, which is the housing sense — still name the ward.”

Good to know

a desirable + noun; desirable to + verb; highly desirable. Close: attractive / advantageous. Trap: a slogan with no criterion. Evaluations, geography, and citizenship. Worth wanting — name the criterion.

Near in meaning

attractive, advantageous, sought-after

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