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
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
In 2017, the angels (who requested anonymity) attracted other donors, which enabled the school to finally return employees to normal salaries, cover tuition for needy students, acquire improvements, such as technology for students and teachers, and offer new courses, including art and music.
—Jan Goldsmith, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Oct. 2025
Vino initially makes Tali seem like a stereotypically needy and critical Jewish mother, but the character gets the show’s best individual arc, going from borderline comic to wildly inspiring.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 7 Oct. 2025
The slogans are simple, intimate, needy, and impossible to avoid.
—Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2025
The company promoted itself as a way for financially needy students to obtain more aid faster, in return for a few hundred dollars in fees.
—CNN Money, 30 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for needy
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Jan Goldsmith, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Oct. 2025
Vino initially makes Tali seem like a stereotypically needy and critical Jewish mother, but the character gets the show’s best individual arc, going from borderline comic to wildly inspiring.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 7 Oct. 2025
The slogans are simple, intimate, needy, and impossible to avoid.
—Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2025
The company promoted itself as a way for financially needy students to obtain more aid faster, in return for a few hundred dollars in fees.
—CNN Money, 30 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for needy
Cite this Entry
“Needy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/needy. Accessed 17 Oct. 2025.
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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