needy

adjective

\ ˈnē-dē

needier; neediest

Definition of needy

1 : being in want : poverty-stricken needy families … where needy children from the community could come to get free, nutritious meals.— Liza N. Burby

2 : marked by want of affection, attention, or emotional support emotionally needy The girl was needy for her mother's affection.

Other Words from needy Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about needy

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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 This is the woman who also bragged about donating to needy kids at a lavish party for her 1-year-old featuring a Gucci claw machine. — Rachel Yang, EW.com, "Netflix's Bling Empire is warping Asian representation when it matters most: Opinion," 23 Feb. 2021 That kind of needy theatricality is all too familiar now. — Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, "Frank Langella feels the power — and its abuse — in playing the ‘Chicago 7' judge," 21 Feb. 2021 Most were the type that became familiar last spring, about quiet acts of heroism — sewing masks, volunteering for food banks, connecting with needy neighbors. — John Branch, New York Times, "A Musical Life With Echoes That Will Last," 20 Feb. 2021 Stressful times are the worst times to feel hemmed in by a needy new girlfriend. — Amy Dickinson, Detroit Free Press, "Longtime partner struggles with workload," 23 Dec. 2020 The at times hectic increase in vaccination opportunities has caused some frustrations, though, because limited quantities of doses have been prioritized for some needy groups but not others. — Jeremy Olson, Star Tribune, "Minnesota rises to 14th in vaccine administration rate; provides 556,482 first doses," 8 Feb. 2021 The intent was to provide extra financial assistance to homes that often serve as the last resort for poor and medically needy residents. — Tim Evans, The Indianapolis Star, "Five ways to fix Indiana's broken nursing home system," 23 Jan. 2021 The city program — which helps needy households pay for rent, mortgages, utilities and internet fees as well as emergency cash assistance — has been in high demand throughout the pandemic. — Joshua Fechter, ExpressNews.com, "More money for distributing coronavirus vaccine, rent relief coming to San Antonio out of latest stimulus," 13 Jan. 2021 The leader, hungry for adulation to compensate for an inner lack of self-worth, projects grandiose omnipotence—while the followers, rendered needy by societal stress or developmental injury, yearn for a parental figure. — Tanya Lewis, Scientific American, "The ‘Shared Psychosis’ of Donald Trump and His Loyalists," 11 Jan. 2021

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'needy.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.