Definition of needy
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
2 : marked by want of affection, attention, or emotional support emotionally needy The girl was needy for her mother's affection.
neediness
nounIndulge Your Inner Word Nerd
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 of needy from the Web
-
Winnipeg, Manitoba (AP) -- Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter was back at a Habitat for Humanity worksite Friday, a day after he was hospitalized for dehydration while working with the organization to build homes for needy families in Canada.
-
In the meantime, charities that actually serve needy Americans, rather than charge them for a limited selection of questionable services, continue to go overlooked.
-
Of all the menstrual products nonprofits are trying to put in the hands of the world’s neediest people, cups are a simple, promising solution.
-
O.K., so we humans are needy and could bond with a rock, depending on the circumstances.
-
And for the truly needy and taxpayers everywhere, that’s really good news.
-
It’s done exceptional work over the years, supporting other organizations, donating to the needy and restoring classics that might otherwise have faded from view.
-
An amendment to add just $8 billion in funding to fund coverage for Americans with pre-existing conditions in states that could choose to opt out of Obamacare's protections for the medically needy under the AHCA.
-
All means the sick, the old, the poor, the unemployed and even politicians who'd rather give humongous tax breaks to the rich than decent health care to the needy.
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.
First Known Use of needy
12th century
NEEDY Defined for English Language Learners
needy
playDefinition of needy for English Language Learners
-
: not having enough money, food, etc., to live properly
-
: needing a lot of attention, affection, or emotional support
NEEDY Defined for Kids
needy
playDefinition of needy for Students
needier
;neediest
: very poor
neediness
nounLearn More about needy
-
See words that rhyme with needy Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for needy Spanish Central: Translation of needy Nglish: Translation of needy for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of needy for Arabic speakers
Seen and Heard
What made you want to look up needy? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Writing? Check your grammar now!