necessitate

verb

ni-ˈse-sə-ˌtāt How to pronounce necessitate (audio)
Definition of necessitatenext
as in to require
to have as a requirement getting new shoes would necessitate another trip to the mall

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 necessitate The Queen previously had a pacemaker installed in January 2025 after experiencing atrial fibrillation during a ski vacation, which necessitated her being airlifted to the hospital. — Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 27 Aug. 2026 This was nearly a full day after the latest injury there, and park officials have remained silent about what necessitated the closure. — Blake Ellis, CNN Money, 27 Aug. 2026 Railroads necessitated new logistical hubs and services around rail terminals. — George C. Lee Ii, Fortune, 26 Aug. 2026 There’s a sensibility to Muppet comedy that speaks to her background in late-night television, where the revolving door of guests necessitates different styles. — Mya Copeland, Variety, 25 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for necessitate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for necessitate
  1. require
  2. need
Verb
  • Matt Bevin has missed several court dates in the case and did not attend the May 29 hearing in person as required by the judge, appearing via Zoom instead.
    — Lucas Aulbach, Louisville Courier Journal, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Doing the math, that leaves two other units with residents who will have a say since allowing the foundation to take over the entire space would require changing the co-op’s bylaws, Richards said.
    — Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of require
Verb
  • Patterson, who turns 27 on Tuesday, has experience at guard and center, and the 49ers needed a backup at both spots considering Toth’s lingering concussion symptoms.
    — Matt Barrows, New York Times, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Any business, town or development group needs this data informing their decisions.
    — Twila Moon, Washington Post, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of need

Browse Nearby Words

necessary
necessitate
necessitated
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Necessitate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/necessitate. Accessed 7 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of gist

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 4
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
anagrams on a chalk board
Word Builder Quiz Vol. 2 Pick the letter that when added to a word will ma...
See All