MUST-HAVES Synonyms: 33 Similar and Opposite Words

must-haves

noun

plural of must-have

as in necessities

something necessary, indispensable, or unavoidable hiking boots are a must-have for this trip

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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 Save up to 50% on school supplies, backpacks, tech, dorm essentials and classroom must-haves. — ABC News, 31 July 2026 These travel must-haves make my weekend trips a little easier, a little lighter, and a lot less stressful. — Jeaneen Russell, PEOPLE, 30 July 2026 Keep scrolling for more travel food must-haves, like a collapsible water bottle, mini snack containers, and more. — Jamie Weissman, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 July 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 Below, shop our eight Quince must-haves, including holy grail designs in breezy linen, washable silk, and Italian leather. — Olivia Cigliano, InStyle, 6 July 2026 Ahead, interior designers break down the must-haves that make a mudroom the organizational workhorse of the home. — Michelle Mastro, The Spruce, 4 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for must-haves

Noun

Once necessities in places like Thailand and Myanmar, floating markets are now mostly tourist attractions.

— Henri Hollis, AJC.com, 30 July 2026
Across the country, colleges and universities are experiencing declining enrollment rates while students simultaneously face increasing costs for basic necessities like housing and food.

— Kyle Brody, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026

Definition of necessities

Noun

For the past six years, antitrust legal giants Beth Wilkinson and Jeffrey Kessler have been locked in a high-profile courtroom battle over whether the NCAA and its member institutions have lived up to the requirements of the Sherman Act.

— Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 4 Aug. 2026
And the sheer scale and complexity of the Medicaid system – joint federal-state funding, varying eligibility requirements, millions of enrollees and thousands of providers – created opportunities for questionable billing practices among providers.

— Ben Zdencanovic, The Conversation, 3 Aug. 2026

Definition of requirements

Noun

Tasked with designing the FIFA KC Fan Fest site for the World Cup, Kansas City sports architecture firm Populous checked the boxes of musts to be included for the site at the World War I Museum.

— Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 13 June 2026
Tex-Mex and barbecue are musts, and the options are plentiful.

— ABC News, ABC News, 8 May 2026

Definition of musts

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must-have

must-haves

mustiness

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“Must-haves.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/must-haves. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of must-haves

noun

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