1
as in necessary
impossible to do without
purchase needful provisions
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in poor
lacking money or material possessions
let's first help the needful families in our own community
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in money
something (as pieces of stamped metal or printed paper) customarily and legally used as a medium of exchange, a measure of value, or a means of payment
fortunately, the family had the needful to stock up the larder before the long hard winter
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in must
something necessary, indispensable, or unavoidable
packed a warm jacket and other needfuls for an autumn weekend in the country
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of needful
Douglas Sytsma, Christian Science Monitor, 30 Jan. 2025
Who promises tomorrows to a whole needful planet, restrikes that match?
—Corey Van Landingham, The New Yorker, 19 June 2023
They are not found to be such on the injustice and violence of individuals, and lose their efficacy in proportion to the number combined together, that is, in proportion as their efficacy becomes needful.
—James Freeman, WSJ, 27 Dec. 2022
For Queen and other Black poets, hip-hop is not only beats and rhymes but something more needful.
—Adam Bradley, New York Times, 4 Mar. 2021
Oxfam exhorts its supporters to send things to the needful Cratchits of the developing world.
—Matthew Sweet, The Economist, 4 Dec. 2020
McBride was touched by the way, in their later years, Marcroft was the primary caregiver for Joyce, who had become needful of that care.
—Gordon Monson, The Salt Lake Tribune, 17 Nov. 2020
What sort of response was needful?
—Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 14 Jan. 2013
Elizabeth Ayoola, Essence, 4 Nov. 2024
Even on this side of the border, the supply of people without legal status but needful of income has led to employers’ brazenly violating child-labor laws.
—The Editors, National Review, 5 May 2023
Adjective
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
Who promises tomorrows to a whole needful planet, restrikes that match?
—Corey Van Landingham, The New Yorker, 19 June 2023
They are not found to be such on the injustice and violence of individuals, and lose their efficacy in proportion to the number combined together, that is, in proportion as their efficacy becomes needful.
—James Freeman, WSJ, 27 Dec. 2022
For Queen and other Black poets, hip-hop is not only beats and rhymes but something more needful.
—Adam Bradley, New York Times, 4 Mar. 2021
Oxfam exhorts its supporters to send things to the needful Cratchits of the developing world.
—Matthew Sweet, The Economist, 4 Dec. 2020
McBride was touched by the way, in their later years, Marcroft was the primary caregiver for Joyce, who had become needful of that care.
—Gordon Monson, The Salt Lake Tribune, 17 Nov. 2020
What sort of response was needful?
—Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 14 Jan. 2013
Noun
The actor did indeed ‘get it together’ and is doing the needful to make things official.
—Elizabeth Ayoola, Essence, 4 Nov. 2024
Even on this side of the border, the supply of people without legal status but needful of income has led to employers’ brazenly violating child-labor laws.
—The Editors, National Review, 5 May 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for needful
Adjective
-
The Nevada Irrigation District says the increases are necessary to fix aging infrastructure while keeping up with rising costs.—
Conor McGill,
CBS News,
18 Apr. 2026
-
Secure loose outdoor items and adjust plans as necessary so you're not caught outside.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
17 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
These closures reflect various factors, including poor investment returns, a lack of government support for refinery upgrades and higher carbon and energy costs.—
Ian King,
CNBC,
15 Apr. 2026
-
After McCandless and her council colleagues approved the sweeping tax breaks, King consistently spoke on how its planning process exemplified poor communication from the city, saying that current leaders should have advocated for a better deal for Independence.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
14 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Participants don’t get their scholarship money until passing their first semester back with C’s or better.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
14 Apr. 2026
-
One of the alleged victims, 95-year-old Angela Liriano, said she was left without money for food after her benefits disappeared.—
Abby Dodge,
CBS News,
14 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The Parker House rolls are a must, as is the corn agnolotti made with blue crab, saffron, and brown butter.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
15 Apr. 2026
-
Lunch at the Peller Estates winery, producer of the best wine in Canada, is a must.—
Kalpana Fitzpatrick,
TheWeek,
15 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The ability to budget, save, manage debt and build credit is essential to navigating modern life.—
Brian Walter,
Baltimore Sun,
14 Apr. 2026
-
For the best burger—one with real beefy flavor—fat is essential.—
Li Goldstein,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
14 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
As Rose’s impoverished yet imperious mother Ruth, Parson’s dry deliveries offer great comic ballast to this ship of fools.—
Frank Rizzo,
Variety,
13 Apr. 2026
-
Jack grew up in an impoverished single-parent household and David is from a wealthy Texan family.—
Cressida Leyshon,
New Yorker,
12 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The victim, Adbadalla Thabet, collected cash from gas stations in Downey, Bellflower, Compton and Lynwood early in the morning before driving to the bank.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Apr. 2026
-
The short-term spending cuts proposed to date are simply not enough to balance the budget anymore — not even with a one-time cash infusion from Albany.—
Ike Brannon,
New York Daily News,
19 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Under the bill, Human Services would be tasked with developing rules around everything from training and background checks to treatment plans, staffing ratios, reporting requirements, and building safety.—
Shaun Boyd,
CBS News,
16 Apr. 2026
-
However, the bill to remove some vaccine requirements that appeared in this year’s legislative session failed to advance.—
Cindy Krischer Goodman,
The Orlando Sentinel,
16 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Needful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/needful. Accessed 21 Apr. 2026.
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