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.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of need
Stephanie Murray, AZCentral.com, 28 Aug. 2025
For example, a manufacturer funding seasonal working capital needs with a floating-rate loan can use a cap to prevent a sudden 200 to 300 basis point spike from destroying margins.
—Meelan Gupta, Forbes.com, 27 Aug. 2025
Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 14 Aug. 2025
The need for an athletic midfielder and perhaps a reliable goalkeeper remains but this now feels like a squad with enough depth for a no-European-games campaign.
—Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for need
Verb
Bill Wade, executive director of the Association of National Park Rangers and a former superintendent of Shenandoah National Park in Virginia, questioned if the fire plan needed to be revised.
—Stephanie Murray, AZCentral.com, 28 Aug. 2025
For example, a manufacturer funding seasonal working capital needs with a floating-rate loan can use a cap to prevent a sudden 200 to 300 basis point spike from destroying margins.
—Meelan Gupta, Forbes.com, 27 Aug. 2025
Noun
Many single-cup units use pods, which eliminates the need for grinding beans and measuring out grounds.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 14 Aug. 2025
The need for an athletic midfielder and perhaps a reliable goalkeeper remains but this now feels like a squad with enough depth for a no-European-games campaign.
—Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for need
Recent Examples of Synonyms for need
Verb
-
Infuriating liberals, the reforms required recipients to work after two years of welfare, put a five-year lifetime limit on federal welfare benefits and encouraged two-parent families.—
DAILY BRIEFING,
AZCentral.com,
23 Aug. 2025
-
Reuters has previously reported the IPC's struggle to get access to data required to assess the crisis.—
Dawoud Abu Alkas,
USA Today,
23 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Another driver of instability is the lack of details about the trade agreements that have so far been reached.—
Sean Conlon,
CNBC,
17 Aug. 2025
-
Feeding those intrusive thoughts was a lack of precedent.—
Hunter Ingram,
Variety,
16 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Tour Southeastern’s Campus Hammond is a college town, so visiting Southeastern Louisiana University is a must.—
Symiah Dorsey,
Southern Living,
23 Aug. 2025
-
If magnetic charging is a must, the Pixel is for you.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
22 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
People of all ages can be at risk of sitting too much and not getting enough movement due to school, work, home, and other obligations.—
Heidi Moawad,
Verywell Health,
23 Aug. 2025
-
The shot had been fired and was part of a wider argument Channel 4 wanted to build around the obligations – or lack of – that streamers have towards British content.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
22 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Nearly 1 in 3 people in Bogalusa live in poverty — 2½ times the national average.—
Fred Clasen-Kelly,
NPR,
19 Aug. 2025
-
But families with very low or no taxable income—those living in poverty or living paycheck to paycheck—also urgently need other forms of support.—
Sarah Rittling,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Bess' friends wanted to honor his memory by making dying wishes come true for some adults with life-threatening illnesses.—
The Tennessean,
The Tennessean,
23 Aug. 2025
-
Before cutting rates, Powell has said, officials want to ensure tariffs amount to a one-time bump to inflation and don’t raise Americans’ inflation expectations in ways that ripple through the economy.—
Cheryl V. Jackson,
IndyStar,
23 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
This requires everyone making Android apps to satisfy Google's requirements before virtually anyone will be able to install their apps, which could help Google retain control as the app market opens up.—
Ryan Whitwam,
ArsTechnica,
25 Aug. 2025
-
The requirements and safety standards are stringent.—
River Selby
August 25,
Literary Hub,
25 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Injecting any amount of mercury into children when safe, mercury-free alternatives exist defies common sense and public health responsibility.—
Kristen Jordan Shamus,
Freep.com,
23 Aug. 2025
-
Under its mandate issued by the Security Council, it is not empowered to enforce peace: The responsibility for implementing the resolution, and achieving lasting security and stability, lies squarely with the parties themselves.—
Jean-Pierre Lacroix,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Need.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/need. Accessed 31 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share