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
Jayson Greene, Pitchfork, 8 May 2026
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
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
Her voice is slurred, needful, abject.
—Jayson Greene, Pitchfork, 8 May 2026
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
-
Last spring, the mayor vetoed the budget adopted by the council, and an override ended up being necessary.—
David Garrick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
29 May 2026
-
The cosmonauts are effectively the human equivalent of first dog Laika, sacrificing themselves — if necessary — for the good of the wider populous.—
Richard Edwards,
Space.com,
29 May 2026
Adjective
-
The second didn’t go nearly as well for Bussi as Karlsson and Howden scored on two of the Golden Knights’ six shots in the period to tie the score at 3-3 heading into the third, the tying goal coming off a Seth Jarvis turnover and a couple of poor defensive plays by Sean Walker and K’Andre Miller.—
Michael Russo,
New York Times,
10 June 2026
-
Heat radiates from the pages of this extraordinary novel about a poor family in rural Mississippi in the days leading up to Hurricane Katrina.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
9 June 2026
Noun
-
The general sales tax increase puts money into the county’s general fund for five years and sunsets in October 2031.—
Steve Scauzillo,
Daily News,
9 June 2026
-
That money will be used to add an additional $250 to the accounts of the first 25 million children who are 10 years old and under who live in zip codes where the median income is less than $150,000.—
Ella McCarthy,
Arkansas Online,
8 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
Adjective
-
But brewing has been an essential industry in Wisconsin for hundreds of years, according to the Wisconsin Historical Society.—
USA TODAY Network,
USA Today,
10 June 2026
-
As for how companies should go about executing all this, Whitman made the case that in-office mandates should be essential, and that imposing them is crucial to building skills in younger workers.—
Jeff John Roberts,
Fortune,
9 June 2026
Adjective
-
Rural Cuba was profoundly impoverished and underdeveloped before and during the Batista era, and land ownership was scant among the working poor.—
Max Saltman,
CNN Money,
4 June 2026
-
So much for bringing the experience of art to culturally impoverished Butte.—
Jonathan Franzen,
New Yorker,
1 June 2026
Noun
-
Carson’s entry took second prize and a thousand-dollar cash award.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
8 June 2026
-
The deal was reportedly valued at over $1 billion and involved a mix of cash and stock.—
Amelia Lucas,Melissa Repko,
CNBC,
7 June 2026
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
Cite this Entry
“Needful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/needful. Accessed 10 Jun. 2026.
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