1
as in requirement
something necessary, indispensable, or unavoidable
on any road trip, accurate maps are a necessity
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in poverty
the state of lacking sufficient money or material possessions
two years of unemployment had reduced the family to abject necessity
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of necessity
For some, that includes cutting back on other necessities such as food, budgeting strictly to afford half a tank of gas a week and rethinking side hustles such as food delivery service.
—
Lily Wright, Los Angeles Times, 12 June 2026
Teachers’ paychecks have never fully reflected their passion or professionalism, but as America’s cost-of-living crisis persists, educators increasingly cannot afford even life’s basic necessities.
—Randi Weingarten, Time, 11 June 2026
This is the Chinese chorizo, a 19th-century staple born of necessity, currently being revived.
—Danielle Bauter, Oc Register, 10 June 2026
Nevertheless, the United States must, of necessity, respond to this attack.
—Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 10 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for necessity
Lily Wright, Los Angeles Times, 12 June 2026
Teachers’ paychecks have never fully reflected their passion or professionalism, but as America’s cost-of-living crisis persists, educators increasingly cannot afford even life’s basic necessities.
—Randi Weingarten, Time, 11 June 2026
This is the Chinese chorizo, a 19th-century staple born of necessity, currently being revived.
—Danielle Bauter, Oc Register, 10 June 2026
Nevertheless, the United States must, of necessity, respond to this attack.
—Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 10 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for necessity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for necessity
Noun
-
Providers must also cover rent or mortgage payments, insurance, food, utilities, supplies, maintenance and regulatory requirements.—
Théoden Janes,
Charlotte Observer,
11 June 2026
-
The requirement that employers bargain with workers before deploying the automation that could replace them — the one protection that would have put machinists like me at the table before the decision was made.—
Heather Merrick,
Hartford Courant,
11 June 2026
Noun
-
But none of these factors can explain the sheer scale of the murder drop, said crime analyst and former CIA agent Jeff Asher, and neither can changes in poverty or the availability of guns.—
The Week US,
TheWeek,
15 June 2026
-
By the end of 2024, Biden had appointed a record number of black women to the federal bench and cut black unemployment and black poverty levels to record lows.—
Ta-Nehisi Coates,
Vanity Fair,
15 June 2026
Noun
-
The humidity will go up big time from the morning to the evening, from humid to muggy, so shorts are a must, along with having the umbrella handy just in case.—
Bill Kelly,
CBS News,
10 June 2026
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While shutting down airspace isn’t really an option, despite how many times Cowie admits he’s tried to do for his high-end clients, coordinating with local police departments is a must.—
Alli Rosenbloom,
CNN Money,
9 June 2026
Noun
-
Most Falcons fans know the misery of what 28-3 means without even going through the whole story behind it.—
AJC Sports,
AJC.com,
11 June 2026
-
The Rays put the Red Sox out of their misery in two hours and 10 minutes.—
Gabrielle Starr,
Boston Herald,
10 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Necessity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/necessity. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
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