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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of need
IndyStar, 3 Sep. 2025
Here's more on what needs to happen in Lansing, and what teachers are doing in the interim.
—Leah Olajide, Freep.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Alan J. Borsuk, jsonline.com, 30 Aug. 2025
Tune in for short episodes every Wednesday and Saturday as Grumpy answers reader questions, solves seasonal conundrums, and provides need-to-know advice for gardeners with his very Grumpy sense of humor.
—Steve Bender, Southern Living, 30 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for need
Verb
This gap between what teachers need and what the administrators are providing can partly be attributed to the distance between the latter and what goes on in their building’s classrooms day-to-day.
—IndyStar, 3 Sep. 2025
Here's more on what needs to happen in Lansing, and what teachers are doing in the interim.
—Leah Olajide, Freep.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Noun
There have been increases in what schools can offer children, but, in general, needs are much larger than available help.
—Alan J. Borsuk, jsonline.com, 30 Aug. 2025
Tune in for short episodes every Wednesday and Saturday as Grumpy answers reader questions, solves seasonal conundrums, and provides need-to-know advice for gardeners with his very Grumpy sense of humor.
—Steve Bender, Southern Living, 30 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for need
Recent Examples of Synonyms for need
Verb
-
Commercial health insurers are required to cover vaccines on the ACIP schedule at no cost-sharing or copay as per the Affordable Care Act, said Groves.—
Mary Walrath-Holdridge,
USA Today,
4 Sep. 2025
-
Those who require additional time to evacuate, and those with pets and livestock should leave now.—
CA WILDFIRE BOT,
Sacbee.com,
4 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
And the noticeable dips also don’t come for the generations of players who would be expecting to play their peak years for England during wartime either — note the lack of games in the 1940s in the earlier graph.—
Michael Cox,
New York Times,
6 Sep. 2025
-
The lack of winning has been exactly the problem during the Chuba years at Carolina.—
Scott Fowler,
Charlotte Observer,
5 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Just like the Golden Bachelor, Maia loves sports, so finding someone athletic, fun and flirty is a must.—
Liza Esquibias,
PEOPLE,
4 Sep. 2025
-
Hot chicken and cool treats When in Nashville, hot chicken is a must, even at the fair.—
Craig Shoup,
Nashville Tennessean,
4 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Might the thrill of their ambition congeal into something like obligation?—
Jack Lang,
New York Times,
8 Sep. 2025
-
From their standpoint, divorce represents a breakdown not only of a personal relationship but of a social or even moral obligation.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
7 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
For 25 years, Chavism has co-opted Venezuela's infrastructure for its own enrichment, persecuting journalists and opposition, wrecking the economy, and leaving its citizens in poverty.—
Kristina Foltz,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Sep. 2025
-
Droughts, floods, and volatile weather patterns erode livelihoods, disrupt supply chains, and undermine markets, especially in countries already struggling with poverty and instability.—
Felicia Jackson,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
By February, Dudek had become the conduit between DOGE and the SSA, alerting top agency officials that DOGE wanted to work at headquarters.—
Eli Hager,
ProPublica,
8 Sep. 2025
-
And after Detroit defeated Green Bay, 34-31, in Week 14 last season, many Packers talked about wanting to see the Lions again in the postseason.—
Rob Reischel,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The course accepts recruits whose body fat is up to 8% higher or whose scores on the Army's aptitude test are as much as seven points lower than the requirement to become a soldier.—
Cybele Mayes-Osterman,
USA Today,
6 Sep. 2025
-
There’s usually a physical requirement, as well as severely playing down the high-wattage glamor that got you on red carpets in the first place.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
6 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The responsibility of creating executive departments also rests with Congress.—
Ingrid Vasquez,
PEOPLE,
5 Sep. 2025
-
It is based solely on my responsibility to protect the people of my state and to advocate for the public health of the entire country.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
4 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Need.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/need. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share