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
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
Many proponents of critical race theory — whose animating idea is that race is the one thing needful, the single lens through which all other phenomena should be viewed — are indeed trying to compel compliance.
—Greg Weiner, National Review, 10 Sep. 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
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
Many proponents of critical race theory — whose animating idea is that race is the one thing needful, the single lens through which all other phenomena should be viewed — are indeed trying to compel compliance.
—Greg Weiner, National Review, 10 Sep. 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 mayor's office said the quick timeline is necessary to meet state notification deadlines for the change to take effect.—
Vanessa Swales,
jsonline.com,
6 Oct. 2025
-
Jackson picked the cold case right back up but had to dispatch colleagues to do the voluminous number of necessary interviews and to pursue any new tips.—
Jean Casarez,
CNN Money,
5 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Similar protests occurred in Brazil over steep living costs and poor healthcare and education ahead of the country hosting the 2014 World Cup tournament.—
Connor Greene,
Time,
2 Oct. 2025
-
Over time, dysfunctional breathing reinforces poor posture and scapular instability.—
Dana Santas,
CNN Money,
2 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Critics of this approach fear that Title I money could eventually be used in ways that undermine public schools — on private school vouchers, for example.—
Megan O’Matz,
ProPublica,
8 Oct. 2025
-
Anthony, for instance, rushed to the bank and withdrew the money demanded and gave it to someone who came to his home.—
Madhusree Mukerjee,
Scientific American,
8 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
But staying relevant in the digital landscape, especially as AI enters the mix, is a must.—
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel,
jsonline.com,
3 Oct. 2025
-
It’s located off the southeast end of campus near the UF Health Shands Hospital and the Cade Museum (a must for families), putting restaurants and gameday activities only a short drive away.—
Skye Sherman,
Southern Living,
3 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Since they’re designed to last for generations, choosing the right pan is essential when the time comes.—
Caley Sturgill,
Southern Living,
9 Oct. 2025
-
Workers deemed non-essential are often furloughed, affecting the National Parks Service, NASA, and the Environmental Protection Agency, among others.—
Miranda Jeyaretnam,
Time,
8 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
But the Shah’s failure to provide support to the peasants led to their farms failing, and sent waves of impoverished migrants to Tehran and other Iranian cities—many of whom would later fuel the 1979 revolution.—
Nik Kowsar,
Time,
2 Oct. 2025
-
Her existence in the vibrant capital city of Sepphoris brings into questions some of our traditional assumptions of Mary as an impoverished illiterate from a backwater rural village with no exposure to Greco-Roman culture.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
30 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
For instance, if both people are eligible but one earned more, collect the lower amount first to have some cash.—
Medora Lee,
USA Today,
5 Oct. 2025
-
From dishes like cast-iron live Maine lobster to a 32-ounce Creekstone Farms American Wagyu Tomahawk ribeye, this is a restaurant where you'd better be prepared to drop some cash.—
Rosalind Bowling,
Nashville Tennessean,
5 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Some states have instituted requirements for websites with adult or pornographic content to verify visitors' age before granting access, although tech experts have pointed out VPNs can be used to get around those guardrails.—
Arpan Lobo,
Freep.com,
4 Oct. 2025
-
There will be 223 new apartments available altogether, once the Union at Rose Park is completed, and 165 of those will be considered affordable housing for lower-income residents, a requirement of each development's tax incremental financing.—
Everett Eaton,
jsonline.com,
4 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Needful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/needful. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.
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