1
as in to require
to have as a requirement
a national crisis that needs a strong leader to solve it
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in lack
a state of being without something necessary, desirable, or useful
when it came time to wrap the presents, he found he was in need of adhesive tape
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in must
something necessary, indispensable, or unavoidable
got a job that barely provided for his basic needs
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in obligation
something one must do because of prior agreement
no need to apologize
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in poverty
the state of lacking sufficient money or material possessions
donating money to help those in need
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of need
Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 28 Oct. 2025
Unlike federal grand juries, which are needed for all felonies, state prosecutors only need a grand jury for capital crimes.
—Romy Ellenbogen, Miami Herald, 28 Oct. 2025
Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 27 Oct. 2025
Productivity competes with the need to socialize during the Capricorn moon.
—Usa Today, USA Today, 27 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for need
Verb
The founding team is an absolute powerhouse — with the drive, expertise and bold vision needed to lead the future of professional hair care.
—Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 28 Oct. 2025
Unlike federal grand juries, which are needed for all felonies, state prosecutors only need a grand jury for capital crimes.
—Romy Ellenbogen, Miami Herald, 28 Oct. 2025
Noun
But Saturn pushes you to create harmony that’s rooted in healthy reciprocity, as opposed to compromise that silences your needs.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 27 Oct. 2025
Productivity competes with the need to socialize during the Capricorn moon.
—Usa Today, USA Today, 27 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for need
Recent Examples of Synonyms for need
Verb
-
But true advancement requires intentionally stepping into a new level of leadership, not doing two jobs at the same time.—
Marlo Lyons,
Harvard Business Review,
29 Oct. 2025
-
With 76 seats needed to form a governing coalition in the Netherlands’ parliament, at least four parties will be required.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
29 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
But the mob’s relative lack of visibility does not mean it’s gone away.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
25 Oct. 2025
-
Barcelona used a mix of zonal and man-marking but struggled when teams exploited their comparalative lack of height and physicality by using players in motion.—
Anantaajith Raghuraman,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Dressing up was a must for kids.—
Mark Dent,
HubSpot,
24 Oct. 2025
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And no matter the time of day or year, a stop at Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve to see some of the largest trees on the planet is a must.—
Justin Goldman,
AFAR Media,
24 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Issuing a faulty boarding pass and leaving you stranded in Toronto is a clear breach of that obligation.—
Christopher Elliott,
Mercury News,
25 Oct. 2025
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Recently, the L’Oréal Paris spokesperson has been jet-setting around the world fulfilling her stylish obligations.—
Michelle Lee,
PEOPLE,
24 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
By one estimate, 75 of the world’s poorest countries must come up with $22 billion in loan repayments this year, making China more of a debt collector than a development banker and risks driving these countries even deeper into poverty.—
Christopher Smart,
Time,
29 Oct. 2025
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But some funders care deeply about energy poverty in the Global South and see nuclear as a solution.—
Anna Broughel,
Forbes.com,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The 2025 shutdown has occurred because Democrats want to see extensions of tax credits and continued spending on health agencies, both actions which come directly out of federal government funds.—
Eleanor Pringle,
Fortune,
27 Oct. 2025
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Alumni want more transparency Alums told IndyStar that transparency is the way to rebuild their trust.—
Cate Charron,
IndyStar,
27 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Qualls will face regular work reporting requirements, more frequent eligibility checks, as well as the quarterly wage checks that Louisiana Medicaid already conducts.—
NPR,
NPR,
25 Oct. 2025
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The chief appraiser then ensures each of the nominees are in good standing with the property tax code’s requirements.—
Rachel Royster,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
24 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Traditionally, one of the key justifications for teamwork has been its psychological benefits—the energy that comes from collaboration, the reduced stress of shared responsibility, the excitement of building on each other’s ideas.—
François Candelon,
Fortune,
31 Oct. 2025
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Silva deserves credit for trusting an 18-year-old to shoulder the responsibility, even when King has shown his inexperience.—
Chris Weatherspoon,
New York Times,
31 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Need.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/need. Accessed 1 Nov. 2025.
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