necessary 1 of 2

adjective

ˈne-sə-ˌser-ē How to pronounce necessary (audio)
Definition of necessarynext
1
as in required
forcing one's compliance or participation by or as if by law an emissions test is necessary before you can renew the registration for your car

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2
as in inevitable
impossible to avoid or evade taxes will always be a necessary evil

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3
as in essential
impossible to do without food and water are necessary for survival

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

necessary

2 of 2

noun

as in must
something necessary, indispensable, or unavoidable a modest income that provided the family with only the necessaries of life

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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 necessary
Adjective
The county education office talks of gradual but real progress as well as difficult but necessary decisions to avert educational and financial disaster. — Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026 The truck had a GPS tracking device, and officers kept tabs on the location, records in the case say, raising questions about why the high-speed pursuit was necessary. — Brittany Wallman, Miami Herald, 9 July 2026
Noun
At George Washington’s Mount Vernon plantation in Virginia there were several such necessaries on the grounds. — New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 12 Apr. 2025 Among other necessaries will be Israeli control of the Philadelphi corridor separating Gaza from Egypt, to ensure that Hamas can’t resupply itself with weapons. — Bret Stephens, Mercury News, 4 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for necessary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for necessary
  1. required
  2. inevitable
  3. essential
  4. must
  5. mandatory
  6. possible
  7. needed
  8. requirement
Adjective
  • The ruling aligned with the views of the Constitutional Court, which, in removing Yoon from office in April 2025, found that his martial law decree lacked legal grounds and failed to follow required procedures.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 9 July 2026
  • Investigators reviewed Walmart surveillance footage, which police said captured the collision and showed the driver of the Ford F-250 inspecting the damage before leaving without providing the required information.
    — Nicole Buss, Sacbee.com, 9 July 2026
Definition of required
Adjective
  • As these historical examples underscore, there is no idealized past to reclaim nor idealized future to arrive at through an inevitable march of progress.
    — Mark Brilliant, Mercury News, 9 July 2026
  • Wang said that Silicon Valley has lost some of its appetite for founders who build hardware products, shunning the longer development cycles and less return upside, compared with AI applications, as well as inevitable supply chain hurdles.
    — Anniek Bao, CNBC, 8 July 2026
Definition of inevitable
Adjective
  • The money will finance dozens of routine but essential items, such as a new roof, a 24-seat school bus and outrigger canoes that will be used by military veterans struggling with post-traumatic stress.
    — Andre Mouchard, Oc Register, 10 July 2026
  • An amazing summer essential and handbag must-have, this refreshing body mist smells like sunshine in a bottle.
    — BestReviews, Mercury News, 9 July 2026
Definition of essential
Noun
  • As more shoppers choose premade items over dining out or making a meal from scratch, according to a report by FMI, the Food Industry Association, Berkeley Bowl's hot bar is a must, featuring sushi, salads, sandwiches and more.
    — Roseann Cattani, USA Today, 10 July 2026
  • The transformative Tuina massage with the calm and collected Victor Prades is a must.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 July 2026
Definition of must
Adjective
  • An evacuation warning means a potential threat to life and/or property, and those who require time to evacuate were urged to leave ahead of any mandatory evacuation order.
    — Carlos E. Castañeda, CBS News, 14 July 2026
  • Regulation varies by state and there is currently no mandatory federal accreditation or licensing requirement for either body donation organizations or non-transplant tissue banks, which are not regulated by the US Food and Drug Administration.
    — Leah Dolan, CNN Money, 13 July 2026
Definition of mandatory
Adjective
  • Be sure to cover your head and neck with your arms, and crawl under a sturdy table if possible.
    — CA Earthquake Bot, Sacbee.com, 14 July 2026
  • Probably the producers felt that introducing seven players all at once needed to go as quickly as possible.
    — Tasha Robinson, Vulture, 14 July 2026
Definition of possible
Adjective
  • Thanks to soccer, often called the world’s beautiful game, many found a needed distraction.
    — Alfredo Corchado, Los Angeles Times, 11 July 2026
  • Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz, who less than a week ago declared a state of emergency in his country following weeks of anti-government protests, said his country stood ready to provide any needed assistance.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 25 June 2026
Definition of needed
Noun
  • With low maintenance requirements and fast turnaround, Gripen provides an advanced and cost-effective fighter capability that is easy to operate and maintain, according to the company.
    — Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 5 July 2026
  • DAFs carry no legal payout requirement — the dollars are irrevocably committed to charity, but on no particular schedule.
    — Gabriel Alin Zainescu, Forbes.com, 5 July 2026
Definition of requirement

Browse Nearby Words

necessarily
necessary
necessitate
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Cite this Entry

“Necessary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/necessary. Accessed 17 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on necessary

Nglish: Translation of necessary for Spanish Speakers

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