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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of necessity
The bottom is completely flat and ideal for housing coffee table books, board games, and other necessities.
—
Shea Simmons, Southern Living, 9 Oct. 2025
However, a spokesperson for CNN pointed out on Wednesday that press credentials are not a necessity for covering military news.
—Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 8 Oct. 2025
And clean clothes were a necessity, given the ever-present threat of disease.
—Sarah Botstein, The Atlantic, 8 Oct. 2025
The former medical secretary says she has been displaced 10 times, and fears the cold of winter as her family struggles for even the most basic necessities.
—Nbc News, NBC news, 8 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for necessity
Shea Simmons, Southern Living, 9 Oct. 2025
However, a spokesperson for CNN pointed out on Wednesday that press credentials are not a necessity for covering military news.
—Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 8 Oct. 2025
And clean clothes were a necessity, given the ever-present threat of disease.
—Sarah Botstein, The Atlantic, 8 Oct. 2025
The former medical secretary says she has been displaced 10 times, and fears the cold of winter as her family struggles for even the most basic necessities.
—Nbc News, NBC news, 8 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for necessity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for necessity
Noun
-
The peculiar requirement is an homage to Emma Stone’s character in the film, who is a bald-headed CEO who ends up kidnapped and suspected of being an alien.—
Andrew McGowan,
Variety,
18 Oct. 2025
-
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), approved by Congress earlier this year, introduces stricter work requirements for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) by limiting who can be exempt from the program’s time restrictions.—
Aliss Higham,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
This poverty is felt particularly hard by the young people of the nation.—
Rebecca Schneid,
Time,
14 Oct. 2025
-
Tedesco's dad worked hard to get out of poverty and she and her husband, through their own careers, eventually achieved a comfortable life.—
Nushrat Rahman,
Freep.com,
14 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The home is constructed with Nordic wood, which not only is lightweight and easy to work with, but also resistant to weathering and decay from rain, snow, extreme temperatures, and fungus—a must in the fluctuating Southern climates.—
Alicia Geigel,
Southern Living,
15 Oct. 2025
-
The ancient structure is a must-visit attraction and a symbol of China’s rich cultural heritage.—
Lorenzino Estrada,
AZCentral.com,
15 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
While most of us on the plane were in this same unexpected predicament, a passenger nearby didn't seem to be sharing in our misery thanks to a compact gadget propped up their phone to the perfect viewing height.—
Anita Katee,
Travel + Leisure,
18 Oct. 2025
-
His matchup against Minnesota could add to the misery.—
Brad Evans,
New York Times,
17 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Necessity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/necessity. Accessed 20 Oct. 2025.
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