must-have 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of must-havenext
as in essential
impossible to do without aprons are must-have accessories for the cooking class

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

must-have

2 of 2

noun

ˈməst-ˌhav How to pronounce must-have (audio)
as in must
something necessary, indispensable, or unavoidable hiking boots are a must-have for this trip

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 must-have
Noun
Keep scrolling to treat yourself to Amazon outlet’s home must-haves and score steep end-of-summer savings. — Melody Kazel, PEOPLE, 7 Aug. 2026 With searches surging for space-saving furniture and organization must-haves, Ikea has a handful of trending picks that fit the bill, including the Markus chair, Kallax shelf, Alex nine-drawer unit and more. — Casey Delbasso, ABC News, 6 Aug. 2026 Used for cleaning the algae off the inside of an aquarium, this is a must-have when cleaning your betta fish tank. — Bestreviews, Mercury News, 6 Aug. 2026 Linen is one of my all-time favorite summer fabrics, making this strappy maxi dress a must-have. — Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 5 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for must-have
Recent Examples of Synonyms for must-have
  1. essential
  2. must
  3. necessary
  4. requirement
  5. integral
  6. necessity
  7. required
  8. needed
Adjective
  • One of those arrangements just survived Supreme Court review as essential to the integrity of the number.
    — Shivaram Rajgopal, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Rafael Pelli, Pelli’s son and a partner at Pelli Clarke & Partners, told The Art Newspaper that the natural environment surrounding the center was an essential element in its design.
    — News Desk, Artforum, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of essential
Noun
  • Of course, installing last week’s security update is also a must.
    — Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 14 Aug. 2026
  • In fact, reading the instructions on any product is a must, McCarthy said, to use it safely and maximize its effectiveness.
    — Sandee LaMotte, CNN Money, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of must
Adjective
  • In the world of corporate mergers and acquisitions, an out-of-town buyer looks to cut costs in order to help cover the share-price premium necessary to clinch the deal and those reductions typically come mainly at the expense of the seller.
    — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 14 Aug. 2026
  • The district court order would still allow below-ground construction or any other measures necessary to protect national security and the president's safety.
    — Devin Dwyer, ABC News, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of necessary
Noun
  • States are also setting up systems that may not adequately track pregnant and postpartum enrollees who should be exempt from the law’s new work requirements, erroneously dropping them from coverage, Burak’s report said.
    — Andrew Jones, CNN Money, 17 Aug. 2026
  • There is a new effort to increase the minimum wage and training requirements for security guards in California ahead of the 2028 Olympics.
    — Steve Large, CBS News, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of requirement
Adjective
  • Jack Reacher, protagonist of books by Lee Child and an ongoing Amazon drama, has several characteristics integral to his Jack Reacher-ness.
    — Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 14 Aug. 2026
  • The strong winds not only carry the sensation of discomfort, but also serendipitously become an integral character of the film.
    — Matilda Hague, Variety, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of integral
Noun
  • Finding a solution for this problem position remains a necessity.
    — Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026
  • In an attempt to combat the limited water supply, the Puerto Rican government is turning off residents’ access to the necessity on a rotating 48-hour basis.
    — Carlos De Loera, Los Angeles Times, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of necessity
Adjective
  • What didn’t pan out nearly so well was all the required documentation.
    — Michael Ashley, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026
  • The coalition's suit claims that Watson has not completed the required historical significance report, which could allow a two-year moratorium on potentially tearing down the building to expire in March 2027.
    — Matthew Ablon, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of required
Adjective
  • The Kalshi conundrum Unlike some of the other companies that oversee affiliated trading arms, Kalshi has suggested in public statements that its corporate sibling exists solely to add needed liquidity in thin markets.
    — Dan Bernstein, Sportico.com, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Jackie helps Cole with the UT stuff and Cole helps Jackie just get out of her shell and live life a little bit, which is so needed.
    — Lexy Perez, HollywoodReporter, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of needed

Browse Nearby Words

musters out
must-have
must-haves
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Cite this Entry

“Must-have.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/must-have. Accessed 17 Aug. 2026.

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