diff --git a/packages/sanity/src/core/studio/components/navbar/search/definitions/operators/stringOperators.test.ts b/packages/sanity/src/core/studio/components/navbar/search/definitions/operators/stringOperators.test.ts
index 3fcb6617107..1853d912e1e 100644
--- a/packages/sanity/src/core/studio/components/navbar/search/definitions/operators/stringOperators.test.ts
+++ b/packages/sanity/src/core/studio/components/navbar/search/definitions/operators/stringOperators.test.ts
@@ -23,7 +23,12 @@ describe('stringOperators', () => {
 
   it('should create a valid filter for stringMatches', () => {
     const filter = stringOperators.stringMatches.groqFilter({fieldPath, value})
-    expect(filter).toEqual(`${fieldPath} match "${value}"`)
+    expect(filter).toEqual(`${fieldPath} match "*${value}*"`)
+  })
+
+  it('should create a valid filter for stringNotMatches', () => {
+    const filter = stringOperators.stringNotMatches.groqFilter({fieldPath, value})
+    expect(filter).toEqual(`!(${fieldPath} match "*${value}*")`)
   })
 
   it('should create a valid filter for stringNotEqual', () => {
diff --git a/packages/sanity/src/core/studio/components/navbar/search/definitions/operators/stringOperators.ts b/packages/sanity/src/core/studio/components/navbar/search/definitions/operators/stringOperators.ts
index 06188c70286..e51798b792d 100644
--- a/packages/sanity/src/core/studio/components/navbar/search/definitions/operators/stringOperators.ts
+++ b/packages/sanity/src/core/studio/components/navbar/search/definitions/operators/stringOperators.ts
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ export const stringOperators = {
     nameKey: 'search.operator.string-contains.name',
     descriptionKey: 'search.operator.string-contains.description',
     groqFilter: ({fieldPath, value}) =>
-      value && fieldPath ? `${fieldPath} match ${toJSON(value)}` : null,
+      value && fieldPath ? `${fieldPath} match "*${value}*"` : null,
     initialValue: null,
     inputComponent: SearchFilterStringInput as SearchOperatorInput<string | number>,
     type: 'stringMatches',
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ export const stringOperators = {
     nameKey: 'search.operator.string-not-contains.name',
     descriptionKey: 'search.operator.string-not-contains.description',
     groqFilter: ({fieldPath, value}) =>
-      value && fieldPath ? `!(${fieldPath} match ${toJSON(value)})` : null,
+      value && fieldPath ? `!(${fieldPath} match "*${value}*")` : null,
     initialValue: null,
     inputComponent: SearchFilterStringInput as SearchOperatorInput<string | number>,
     type: 'stringNotMatches',