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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 Of course, bows and tulle are also must-haves for LFW attendee thanks to Simone Rocha. — Phil Oh, Vogue, 19 Sep. 2026 There were will be deals across more than 35 categories, including trending products, fall must-haves, premium brands, decor and hosting essentials, tech, Halloween and beyond. — ABC News, 16 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 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for must-haves
  1. necessities
  2. requirements
  3. musts
Noun
  • When parents cannot afford enough food, stable housing, child care, or other necessities, the conditions created by poverty can bring them to the attention of child protective services.
    — Sandy Santana, STAT, 29 Sep. 2026
  • Chalk it up to how busy guys’ lives have gotten, loosening gender norms, or the simple fact that pockets are inadequate for modern life’s necessities.
    — Justin Fenner, Robb Report, 26 Sep. 2026
Definition of necessities
Noun
  • Repeating that process places significant stress on components, increasing operational and capital costs due to the risk of failure, maintenance requirements and downtime.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 26 Sep. 2026
  • Last month, the state said that was largely due to difficulties in putting in place new federal requirements that resulted in higher call volumes and additional verification.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 26 Sep. 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

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 30 Sep. 2026.

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