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
Relevance
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
Karla Walsh, Southern Living, 13 Feb. 2026
This approach isn’t particularly palatable to fans, but it is mostly accepted as a necessary mechanism for long-term roster improvement among the bottom rung of NBA teams.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 13 Feb. 2026
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
In a large bowl, mix all the ingredients together, being careful not to break up the crab any more than necessary.
—Karla Walsh, Southern Living, 13 Feb. 2026
This approach isn’t particularly palatable to fans, but it is mostly accepted as a necessary mechanism for long-term roster improvement among the bottom rung of NBA teams.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 13 Feb. 2026
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
-
They are focused on the human injustices wrought by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers who have stopped cars on roadsides, rounded up job-seekers and even laid in wait outside hearing rooms to detain people complying with required appearances in immigration court.—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
8 Feb. 2026
-
The floor initially existed as a score consisting of the project drawings and the required materials; the final shape was left to the team, with the sole instruction not to clean or organize them neatly.—
K. Desbouis,
Artforum,
6 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Why solar and lunar eclipses come in pairs Once an eclipse season begins, a pair of eclipses becomes almost inevitable.—
Jamie Carter,
Space.com,
13 Feb. 2026
-
When particles interact, entanglement is inevitable.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
13 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Accurate alignment of these motors is essential to ensure synchronized gripper motion when folding fabric.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
10 Feb. 2026
-
Remove permissions that are not essential.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Dancing shoes Fado music was born in Portugal, and its deeply emotive style, accompanied by string instruments, is a must-experience in Lisbon.—
Natalie Hammond,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Instead, estate planning, investing, and other long-term financial planning is a must.—
Sydney Lake,
Fortune,
11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
One weapons count carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 30 years and a maximum of life, while another related conspiracy charge also carries a maximum sentence of life.—
Greg Wehner,
FOXNews.com,
6 Feb. 2026
-
More than 300 district judges in Minnesota and elsewhere have so far rejected the government’s mandatory detention policies, ordering detainees released or granted bond hearings.—
Kaelan Deese,
The Washington Examiner,
6 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The Tuesday night development in the case comes hours after the release of doorbell camera footage of a possible suspect in the disappearance.—
Molly Parks,
The Washington Examiner,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Be sure to cover your head and neck with your arms, and crawl under a sturdy table if possible.—
CA Earthquake Bot,
Sacbee.com,
10 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Shorthanded yet again, not even a celebration of the team’s 2005-06 championship season could provide needed motivation as the Heat fell 127–115 Tuesday night to the Atlanta Hawks at Kaseya Center.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
3 Feb. 2026
-
Dubbed the Clock Tower Landing, the $34 million project kicked off construction in December 2024 as part of the city’s efforts to make needed improvements to the space the city has outgrown as the market became more popular and saw larger crowds each year.—
Taylor O'Connor,
Kansas City Star,
31 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Among the demands are a requirement for judicial warrants, better identification of DHS officers, new use of force standards and a stop to racial profiling.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
6 Feb. 2026
-
The amendment also cements that outside vendors contracted for requests for proposals should follow county procurement and ethics requirements.—
Claudia Levens,
jsonline.com,
5 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Necessary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/necessary. Accessed 17 Feb. 2026.
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