1
as in requirement
something necessary, indispensable, or unavoidable
on any road trip, accurate maps are a necessity
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in poverty
the state of lacking sufficient money or material possessions
two years of unemployment had reduced the family to abject necessity
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 necessity
Other necessities normally include the space and equipment to recharge air or oxygen cylinders, and a medical team.
—
Jintamas Saksornchai, Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2026
Kozak says the platform was born not from theory, but necessity.
—Craig Lebrau, USA Today, 29 May 2026
Everyday necessities quickly become more expensive, and healthcare costs, which already tend to rise faster than average inflation, can place additional pressure on retirement savings.
—David Kudla, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026
Many households have struggled in the face of rising prices for necessities like groceries and gas due to the Iran war.
—Jessica Dickler, CNBC, 28 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for necessity
Jintamas Saksornchai, Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2026
Kozak says the platform was born not from theory, but necessity.
—Craig Lebrau, USA Today, 29 May 2026
Everyday necessities quickly become more expensive, and healthcare costs, which already tend to rise faster than average inflation, can place additional pressure on retirement savings.
—David Kudla, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026
Many households have struggled in the face of rising prices for necessities like groceries and gas due to the Iran war.
—Jessica Dickler, CNBC, 28 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for necessity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for necessity
Noun
-
Under Florida law, any attorney in good standing is eligible to serve as a guardian ad litem in family court without any further requirements.—
Shira Moolten,
Sun Sentinel,
4 June 2026
-
Charles Schwab Learn More Minimum deposit and balance Minimum deposit and balance requirements may vary depending on the investment vehicle selected.—
Liz Knueven,
CNBC,
4 June 2026
Noun
-
The artist behind the series descended into poverty following the breakdown that left her unable to paint; years later her teen daughter, Indigo, herself a gifted artist, is barely keeping the two of them afloat.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
2 June 2026
-
De La Espriella has proposed poverty reduction through better education, healthcare and housing for the poorest.—
USA Today,
USA Today,
1 June 2026
Noun
-
For breakfast, the Mai Tai flapjacks, served with Kula rum butter syrup, honey passionfruit foam, and island pineapple, are a must-order.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
4 June 2026
-
Replacing the filter is a must.—
Angela Haupt,
Time,
3 June 2026
Noun
-
The world may have looked grim in what was also a penultimate week before elections, when the focus becomes necessarily not on joy but misery, the political premise being the winning candidate is the one who makes the electorate the angriest.—
Mark Swed,
Los Angeles Times,
3 June 2026
-
Plus, to your other point, any contender is one injury away from misery, as the Warriors have shown with Stephen Curry in recent years or the Pacers showed with Tyrese Halliburton this season (while accepting the Celtics as an outlier).—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
2 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Necessity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/necessity. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
