as in essential
impossible to do without
aprons are must-have accessories for the cooking class
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Stephanie Tharpe, Forbes.com, 29 May 2025
For Dodgers fans, the must-have souvenir from last year’s World Series was not a cap or T-shirt commemorating the team’s championship.
—Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2025
Keep reading to find must-haves to refresh your travel arsenal, with prices starting as low as $5.
—Rylee Johnston, Travel + Leisure, 29 May 2025
As enthusiasts on all things sleep, AD editors are constantly testing all the must-haves to complete a bedroom.
—Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 28 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for must-have
Noun
Fitbit Charge 6 has quickly become a must-have for travelers who want to prioritize their health while on the go.
—Stephanie Tharpe, Forbes.com, 29 May 2025
For Dodgers fans, the must-have souvenir from last year’s World Series was not a cap or T-shirt commemorating the team’s championship.
—Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2025
Keep reading to find must-haves to refresh your travel arsenal, with prices starting as low as $5.
—Rylee Johnston, Travel + Leisure, 29 May 2025
As enthusiasts on all things sleep, AD editors are constantly testing all the must-haves to complete a bedroom.
—Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 28 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for must-have
Recent Examples of Synonyms for must-have
Adjective
-
Captions are essential, especially on mobile devices or in quiet settings.—
Dr. Diane Hamilton,
Forbes.com,
8 June 2025
-
Emotional requirements: Compassion, patience and resilience are all essential but don’t expect emotional support in return.—
JJ Holmes,
The Orlando Sentinel,
8 June 2025
Noun
-
Trader Joe's mini sheet cakes are a must for many shoppers.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
12 June 2025
-
In these turbulent times learning how to manage disputes is a must.—
Harvard Business Review,
Harvard Business Review,
12 June 2025
Adjective
-
But policy continuity is key to attracting the foreign investment necessary to realize these goals.—
Charlie Campbell,
Time,
13 June 2025
-
Administrative Law Judge Karl-Fredric Seligman acknowledged the financial strain on policyholders but said the rate hike was a necessary measure under the circumstances.—
Daniel Hunt,
Sacbee.com,
12 June 2025
Noun
-
While Hochul’s executive order bars the State Police from cooperating with immigration enforcement, the same isn’t true for the state’s myriad local cops, which have a patchwork of requirements; NYC has its own prohibitions but Rotterdam, clearly, does not.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
14 June 2025
-
This would be Whitson’s second trip on an Axiom mission to the ISS, and part of NASA’s requirement that former NASA astronaut command commercial mission visits to the ISS.—
Richard Tribou,
The Orlando Sentinel,
14 June 2025
Adjective
-
Becoming Prepared For Tomorrow AI is no longer a frontier test technology but is becoming an integral part of engineering excellence.—
Srinivasa Rao Bittla,
Forbes.com,
13 June 2025
-
Orlando’s ‘Ren’ Theatre pushes boundaries to make its artistic mark Orlando’s Renaissance Theatre has become an integral part of the Central Florida theater scene — by pushing theatrical boundaries.—
Matthew J. Palm,
The Orlando Sentinel,
12 June 2025
Noun
-
Signings of this kind were a regular feature of Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal, at a time when punishing interest payments relating to the Emirates Stadium’s construction made that kind of value-chasing purchase a necessity.—
James McNicholas,
New York Times,
6 June 2025
-
To treat thinking not as indulgence but as necessity.—
Benjamin Laker,
Forbes.com,
5 June 2025
Adjective
-
Enacted after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the SEVP rules and certification process were intended to encourage schools to report when students dropped out or no longer maintained a required courseload and to remove fraudulent or illegitimate schools.—
Stuart Anderson,
Forbes.com,
25 May 2025
-
This comes to a head when he is faced with the F.A.A.’s required medical questionnaire.—
Gideon Lewis-Kraus,
New Yorker,
25 May 2025
Adjective
-
Who promises tomorrows to a whole needful planet, restrikes that match?—
Corey Van Landingham,
The New Yorker,
19 June 2023
-
What sort of response was needful?—
Razib Khan,
Discover Magazine,
14 Jan. 2013
Cite this Entry
“Must-have.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/must-have. Accessed 17 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share