leave much to be desired

verb

Synonym of leave a lot to be desired.

Similar
leave a lot to be desired
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Meanings

verbleave much to be desired (third-person singular simple present leaves much to be desired, present participle leaving much to be desired, simple past and past participle left much to be desired)

present singular third person leaves much to be desired · participle present leaving much to be desired · participle past left much to be desired · past left much to be desired

  1. Synonym of leave a lot to be desired.

    Southgate's side kept their nerve and discipline in the unsettling, intimidating surroundings of Budapest, with the behaviour of Hungary's fans leaving much to be desired, to turn up the heat and punish their opponents ruthlessly once they had gone ahead.

    2021 September 2, Phil McNulty, “Hungary 0-4 England”, in BBC

    Synonyms: leave a lot to be desired

Synonyms & antonyms

verbSynonym of leave a lot to be desired.

Similar
leave a lot to be desired
Cite this entry
APA

leave much to be desired. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/leave%20much%20to%20be%20desired

MLA

“leave much to be desired.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/leave%20much%20to%20be%20desired. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “leave much to be desired,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/leave%20much%20to%20be%20desired.

Source: leave much to be desired on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.