1
as in to require
to have as a requirement
a national crisis that needs a strong leader to solve it
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in lack
a state of being without something necessary, desirable, or useful
when it came time to wrap the presents, he found he was in need of adhesive tape
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in must
something necessary, indispensable, or unavoidable
got a job that barely provided for his basic needs
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in obligation
something one must do because of prior agreement
no need to apologize
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in poverty
the state of lacking sufficient money or material possessions
donating money to help those in need
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of need
Luca Evans, Denver Post, 10 May 2026
That is why identity protection needs to last longer than the breach notice.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 10 May 2026
Anne Brensley, Boston Herald, 9 May 2026
But given his offensive output in his River Cats rehab games, plus the big-league team’s need for catching depth, he is expected to rejoin the 26-man roster soon.
—Michael McGough, Sacbee.com, 9 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for need
Verb
And some, well — some need a Peloton.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 10 May 2026
That is why identity protection needs to last longer than the breach notice.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 10 May 2026
Noun
Bridge the Gap helps veterans, service members, and their families when federal and state programs fail to meet their needs.
—Anne Brensley, Boston Herald, 9 May 2026
But given his offensive output in his River Cats rehab games, plus the big-league team’s need for catching depth, he is expected to rejoin the 26-man roster soon.
—Michael McGough, Sacbee.com, 9 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for need
Recent Examples of Synonyms for need
Verb
-
Since neither Bronin nor Larson achieved 50% on the first round, the delegates were required to vote again in a second round.—
Christopher Keating,
Hartford Courant,
12 May 2026
-
Meeting it would require me to sprint across the twentieth century.—
Jill Lepore,
New Yorker,
12 May 2026
Verb
-
The block party is free, but people who want to attend must RSVP.—
Chantelle Lee,
Time,
30 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
Staff and managers complained about the lack of specifics, as did legal-services providers and advocacy groups.—
E. Tammy Kim,
New Yorker,
7 May 2026
-
Pratt took aim at Bass over the lack of water available during the inferno, with fire hydrants running dry.—
David Zahniser,
Los Angeles Times,
7 May 2026
Noun
-
Nevertheless, the lawsuit said Bayfront Park Management Trust lacked a proper accounting system and didn’t have requirements for expenses to be supported by a contract or invoice policy, nor a policy or procedure to ensure vendors were selected through a competitive bidding process.—
Tess Riski
May 7,
Miami Herald,
7 May 2026
-
The state also does not have a minimum age requirement to possess a firearm, a law that gun control advocates have criticized for allowing minors to carry guns.—
Kacen Bayless,
Kansas City Star,
7 May 2026
Noun
-
Later, the Moon squares the Sun and may test timing or obligations, but do not let that dim momentum.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
9 May 2026
-
The passport denial program has existed for decades and is used by federal and state officials as a tool to enforce past-due child support obligations.—
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten,
FOXNews.com,
8 May 2026
Noun
-
Currently there are 80 federal welfare and poverty assistance programs in place.—
Letters to the Editor,
The Orlando Sentinel,
12 May 2026
-
For many, the boom has been a lifeline in a region with some of the highest poverty rates in Mexico.—
Claudia Rosel,
Los Angeles Times,
11 May 2026
Verb
-
The project is particularly acrimonious, drawing out geographical battles between north and south and thorny fights between officials who want to build the tunnel and environmentalists and Delta residents seeking to protect the local ecosystem and their way of life.—
Ian James,
Los Angeles Times,
8 May 2026
-
Chimaev just wants his rival to make it to the cage.—
Alejandro Avila OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
8 May 2026
Noun
-
Baby2Baby is a national nonprofit based in California that provides clothing and other basic necessities to children.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
8 May 2026
-
International humanitarian law mandates the principles of distinction, proportionality, and necessity, but the opaqueness of drone operations, particularly outside active battlefields, challenges these principles.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
8 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Need.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/need. Accessed 13 May. 2026.
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