needier; neediest
1
: being in want : poverty-stricken
needy families
… where needy children from the community could come to get free, nutritious meals.—
Liza N. Burby
Liza N. Burby2
: marked by want of affection, attention, or emotional support
emotionally needy
The girl was needy for her mother's affection.
neediness
noun
Synonyms
Examples of needy in a Sentence
As a child, she was extremely needy and had no self-confidence.
those generous souls who regularly give money and donate clothes to help the needy
Recent Examples on the Web
The award-winning theater, film and TV star triumphs as the brilliant but needy veteran stage performer Lillian Hall realizing — and making those around her realize — that something is seriously wrong with her.
—Randy Myers, The Mercury News, 5 June 2024
Much of the food does not go to the most needy because the Sudanese government allows politics to dictate who gets what and donors either acquiesce or partly withdraw from the country in the face of political meddling.
—Susanne Jaspars, Foreign Affairs, 16 Oct. 2018
Thus Nahmias became the founder and CEO of Food Forward, a gleaning operation that distributed unwanted residential fruit to community organizations feeding needy people.
—Jeanette Marantos, Los Angeles Times, 28 May 2024
For needy families, the Honduran consulate will pay the cost — around $7,000 to $10,000 — directly to those funeral homes.
—Maya Lora, Baltimore Sun, 2 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for needy 
Randy Myers, The Mercury News, 5 June 2024
Much of the food does not go to the most needy because the Sudanese government allows politics to dictate who gets what and donors either acquiesce or partly withdraw from the country in the face of political meddling.
—Susanne Jaspars, Foreign Affairs, 16 Oct. 2018
Thus Nahmias became the founder and CEO of Food Forward, a gleaning operation that distributed unwanted residential fruit to community organizations feeding needy people.
—Jeanette Marantos, Los Angeles Times, 28 May 2024
For needy families, the Honduran consulate will pay the cost — around $7,000 to $10,000 — directly to those funeral homes.
—Maya Lora, Baltimore Sun, 2 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for needy
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'needy.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near needy
Cite this Entry
“Needy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/needy. Accessed 16 Jun. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
needy
adjective
needier; neediest
1
: being in want : very poor
needy families
2
: marked by want of affection, attention, or emotional support
a tendency to be emotionally needy
neediness
noun
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