must-haves

noun

plural of must-have
as in necessities
something necessary, indispensable, or unavoidable hiking boots are a must-have for this trip

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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-haves Amazon says Prime Big Deal Days will feature deals across more than 35 categories, spanning trending products and premium brands to fall must-haves, tech, Halloween finds, home and hosting essentials and more. — ABC News, 7 Oct. 2026 Shop our 15 must-haves from Martha Stewart, Peanuts, and more below at up to 65 percent off, starting at just $5. — Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 2 Oct. 2026 Of course, bows and tulle are also must-haves for LFW attendee thanks to Simone Rocha. — Phil Oh, Vogue, 19 Sep. 2026 United passengers flying from select gates at Newark Liberty International Airport's Terminal C are now able to pre-order food, drinks and other travel must-haves, such as charging cords or neck pillows, on the airline's mobile app. — Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2026 Shop more beauty must-haves for fall at Nordstrom below including an anti-aging serum and travel-ready hand cream. — Izzy Baskette, PEOPLE, 27 Aug. 2026 Sleeping Accessories Blankets, sleeping bags, and pillows are all must-haves for a storm shelter. — Maria Sabella, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Aug. 2026 Separating the must-haves from the nice-to-haves can help parents decide where to hold firm and where a splurge might fit within the family budget. — Ashley Lynch, Charlotte Observer, 25 Aug. 2026 The main compartment is spacious enough to comfortably accommodate a 16-inch MacBook, toiletry bag, and your in-cabin must-haves, along with clothing, shoes, and other essentials needed for a long weekend trip. — Morgan Ashley Parker, Travel + Leisure, 13 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for must-haves
  1. necessities
  2. requirements
  3. musts
Noun
  • Prosecutors accuse him of participating in schemes to divert hundreds of millions of dollars from Venezuelan government programs intended to provide housing, food and other necessities to the country’s impoverished population.
    — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 12 Oct. 2026
  • All contemporary, they’re stocked with necessities (from towels to toiletries).
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of necessities
Noun
  • Compared with legacy platforms, the Ship-to-Shore Connector incorporates design improvements intended to increase payload capacity and speed while reducing operator and logistical requirements.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 11 Oct. 2026
  • The new changes in the electoral law ease some requirements for candidates seeking office, eliminate the need for some financial documents and a mandatory medical certificate, and introduce electronic voter registration.
    — Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of requirements
Noun
  • Hot apple cider and fresh cider doughnuts are fall musts, and this cider mill has both of them.
    — Katelyn Umholtz, Kansas City Star, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Tex-Mex and barbecue are musts, and the options are plentiful.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 8 May 2026
Definition of musts

Browse Nearby Words

must-have
must-haves
mustiness
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Cite this Entry

“Must-haves.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/must-haves. Accessed 15 Oct. 2026.

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