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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in inevitable
impossible to avoid or evade
taxes will always be a necessary evil
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in essential
impossible to do without
food and water are necessary for survival
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in must
something necessary, indispensable, or unavoidable
a modest income that provided the family with only the necessaries of life
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of necessary
Yuki Noguchi, NPR, 30 July 2025
Inside lane closures may be necessary along the highways as crews complete the work.
—Nwa Democrat-Gazette, Arkansas Online, 30 July 2025
Andrea Flores, Los Angeles Times, 12 Mar. 2025
Blakely has been charged with capital murder, while Washington is charged with child deprivation of necessaries with substantial harm.
—Warren Kulo | Wkulo@al.com, al, 19 Apr. 2023
See All Example Sentences for necessary
Adjective
Some of the legislation limiting food dyes may not be necessary, nor do all those ingredients pose a health risk, says John Hewitt, a lobbyist for the Consumer Brands Association, a food industry trade association.
—Yuki Noguchi, NPR, 30 July 2025
Inside lane closures may be necessary along the highways as crews complete the work.
—Nwa Democrat-Gazette, Arkansas Online, 30 July 2025
Noun
Latinos are necessaries for the North American community.
—Andrea Flores, Los Angeles Times, 12 Mar. 2025
Blakely has been charged with capital murder, while Washington is charged with child deprivation of necessaries with substantial harm.
—Warren Kulo | Wkulo@al.com, al, 19 Apr. 2023
See All Example Sentences for necessary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for necessary
Adjective
-
No required Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification from the company was viewable on the state’s Labor and Economic Opportunity website as of the morning of Wednesday, July 23.—
Darcie Moran,
Freep.com,
24 July 2025
-
The petition drive was a required step to keep the cityhood application process going.—
Ashley Mackin Solomon,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
23 July 2025
Adjective
-
Anyone who believes the American entrance into WWII was easy and inevitable will be shocked to hear that the path was difficult and paved with spies, lies, and coercion.—
AudioFile Magazine
July 31,
Literary Hub,
31 July 2025
-
High tariff rates will lead to ‘inevitable’ price increases Logistics experts tell CNBC that even with the new tariff deals being announced, such as Japan and the EU at 15%, the rates should still be considered high.—
Lori Ann LaRocco,
CNBC,
31 July 2025
Adjective
-
The truth is, digestion is an essential part of the wellness and health conversation.—
Ariana Yaptangco,
Glamour,
15 July 2025
-
Justin brings an inherent understanding of my company that is essential for its growth.—
Justin Kroll,
Deadline,
14 July 2025
Noun
-
No matter what the Yankees do before the deadline passes at 6 p.m. ET on Thursday, getting multiple relievers is a must.—
Brendan Kuty,
New York Times,
31 July 2025
-
The elements around it have changed, but the magic has remained pure, a must.—
Rick Mauch,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
16 July 2025
Adjective
-
Pakistan now faces a mandatory review — a final phase requiring endorsement from key FATF members.—
Jack Rosen,
New York Daily News,
21 July 2025
-
So why haven’t more cities made curbside composting easier, or even mandatory? Curbside Composting Is Growing, But Access Lags California and Vermont are the only two states that currently mandate some form of household curbside composting access; Washington state’s law becomes effective in 2030.—
Heather Wishart-Smith,
Forbes.com,
21 July 2025
Adjective
-
That would be possible because access from Lincoln Memorial Drive to and from I-794 would be shifted southward.—
Tom Daykin,
jsonline.com,
29 July 2025
-
The Kansas City Fire Department was dispatched around 6:45 p.m. Saturday to Indian Creek, near 103rd Street and State Line Road on reports of a possible drowning.—
Noelle Alviz-Gransee,
Kansas City Star,
28 July 2025
Noun
-
Remember that there are lots of different Forms 1099 and many different reporting requirements.—
Kelly Phillips Erb,
Forbes.com,
19 July 2025
-
In 2024, the Biden administration proposed expanding parole in place to undocumented immigrants married to U.S. citizens who met certain requirements, such as having lived in the country for a minimum number of years.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
19 July 2025
Adjective
-
For example, Department of Education regulators are tasked with determining what subjects private institutions are teaching and if their curriculum adheres to compulsory education standards.—
Adina Mermelstein Konikoff,
New York Daily News,
22 July 2025
-
Written as the compulsory number for the middle school division of the 92nd NHK All-Japan School Choir Competition, the song launched with 26,388 downloads to hit No. 1 for metric, while coming in at No. 16 for streaming, No. 15 for video, and No. 56 for radio.—
Billboard Japan,
Billboard,
17 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Necessary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/necessary. Accessed 3 Aug. 2025.
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