necessitous

adjective

ni-ˈse-sə-təs How to pronounce necessitous (audio)
Definition of necessitousnext
1
as in necessary
impossible to do without all the dreaded, necessitous decisions that one must make when arranging the funeral of a loved one

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in impoverished
lacking money or material possessions amidst the holiday feasting, merrymaking and spending, it was easy to overlook the necessitous members of the community

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in urgent
needing immediate attention firmly of the belief that no matter is so necessitous that it cannot be put off until tomorrow

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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 necessitous Exclusive dedication to necessitous employment without interludes of hedonistic diversion renders John a bland young male. — Richard Lederer, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Oct. 2021
Recent Examples of Synonyms for necessitous
  1. necessary
  2. impoverished
  3. urgent
  4. essential
  5. poor
  6. acute
  7. needful
  8. impecunious
Adjective
  • The policy directs higher education institutions not to create a list of student names linked with immigration status or retain sensitive information, like a student or parent’s Social Security number, for longer than necessary.
    — Tarini Mehta, Sacbee.com, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Officials have also decided on a general application screening and approval process, including what types of background checks will be necessary and which government agencies should be involved.
    — Jessica Puckett, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of necessary
Adjective
  • In the South, Italians were frequently employed in manual labor alongside Black workers, and in the North, Italian and Black neighborhoods—frequently the most impoverished—often abutted each other.
    — Ed Simon, JSTOR Daily, 7 Oct. 2026
  • The actors will soon slip into their 1967 costumes as the impoverished Greasers and the privileged Socs — and spend the next two hours hating each other onstage.
    — Jenelle Riley, Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of impoverished
Adjective
  • Her songs feel urgent and unfiltered; Rodrigo sings about the negative sides of herself, too, whether that’s feelings of jealousy or obsession.
    — Ethan Millman, HollywoodReporter, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Torres recommends establishing a coverage plan ahead of cold and flu season, so employees know who will take their shift or handle urgent work.
    — Angela Haupt, Time, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of urgent
Adjective
  • The brand believes that allowing attendees to see, touch and fully appreciate the craftsmanship, materials and details of the garments is essential to convey the full value of the collection.
    — Madeleine Schulz, Vogue, 8 Oct. 2026
  • For community associations and other property owners, maintaining safe conditions to avoid injuries is essential to satisfying their duty and minimizing exposure to potentially severe financial and legal liabilities.
    — Christyne D. Santisteban, Miami Herald, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of essential
Adjective
  • Europe is expected to have a particularly poor corn harvest and needs larger imports just as its demand for feed remains high.
    — Jenni Reid, CNBC, 10 Oct. 2026
  • Reese is known as a poor shooter, and is often mocked for missing easy shots in games.
    — Jackson Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of poor
Adjective
  • In some parts of Africa, the obstacles to foreign investment are more acute.
    — Jared Cohen, Foreign Affairs, 7 Oct. 2026
  • For instance, a patient might be admitted for diverticulitis (primary diagnosis), but found on post-op labs to have acute blood-loss anemia (secondary diagnosis).
    — Leah Pierson, STAT, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of acute
Adjective
  • Her voice is slurred, needful, abject.
    — Jayson Greene, Pitchfork, 8 May 2026
  • That image of God never has a problem, never has a disease, never lacks anything needful or truly desirable, and has never sinned.
    — Douglas Sytsma, Christian Science Monitor, 30 Jan. 2025
Definition of needful
Adjective
  • Traumatized into silence, the de facto orphan stays living with the kindly but guilt-ridden, grieving and impecunious Hiroshi.
    — Jessica Kiang, Variety, 12 June 2026
  • Since then, it has been performed across much of the world, being ideally suited to these impecunious times and very masterfully written.
    — Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 13 Mar. 2026
Definition of impecunious

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Cite this Entry

“Necessitous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/necessitous. Accessed 13 Oct. 2026.

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