Synonyms of needs

needs 1 of 3

adverb

ˈnēdz 

as in necessarily

because of necessity

the dangers of global warming must needs be recognized—and recognized soon—by the industrialized nations of the world

Synonyms & Similar Words

• necessarily
• inevitably
• unavoidably
• ipso facto
• inescapably
• ineluctably
• perforce
• involuntarily

needs

2 of 3

verb

present tense third-person singular of need

1

as in requires

to have as a requirement

a national crisis that needs a strong leader to solve it

Synonyms & Similar Words

• requires
• wants
• takes
• demands
• involves
• necessitates
• challenges
• claims
• calls for
• warrants
• entails
• asks
• begs
• bears
• lacks
• insists
• cries (for)
• hurts (for)
• stipulates
• clamors (for)
• exacts
• commands
• enjoins
• presses
• quests

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• has
• holds
• owns
• possesses

2

as in must

to be under necessity or obligation to

you need not stand when she enters the room

Synonyms & Similar Words

• must
• should
• will
• shall
• has (to)
• ought (to)

needs

3 of 3

noun

plural of need

1

as in requirements

something necessary, indispensable, or unavoidable

got a job that barely provided for his basic needs

Synonyms & Similar Words

• requirements
• necessities
• musts
• demands
• requisites
• essentials
• needfuls
• necessaries
• conditions
• sine qua nons
• must-haves
• prerequisites
• preconditions
• advantages
• wishes
• pluses
• desiderata
• edges
• desiderations

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• nonessentials
• surpluses
• comforts
• amenities
• luxuries
• nonnecessities
• extras
• frills
• extravagances
• indulgences
• superfluities
• surplusages

2

as in obligations

something one must do because of prior agreement

no need to apologize

Synonyms & Similar Words

• obligations
• responsibilities
• duties
• requirements
• promises
• commitments
• vows
• constraints
• burdens
• imperatives
• offices
• pledges
• charges
• dos
• payments
• words
• devoirs
• pacts
• incumbencies
• arrangements
• trusts
• contracts
• forces
• oaths
• setups
• debts
• restraints
• compulsions
• musts
• appointments
• covenants
• compacts
• reservations
• tributes
• prearrangements
• engagements
• troths
• duresses
• coercions
• onuses

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• stays
• exemptions
• graces
• options
• releases
• waivers
• discharges
• alternatives
• preferences
• choices
• eases
• reliefs
• postponements
• loopholes
• selections
• picks

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of needs

Verb

Not that Bieber needs much assistance, with dewy skin and softly flushed cheeks becoming central to the Rhode universe. — Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 3 Oct. 2026

Demonstrations focus on Marine mission needs The next phase gives the Marine Corps further opportunities to assess the technology against its mission requirements. — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 3 Oct. 2026

For reference, a single person with no kids needs to earn at least $54,037 to survive in Miami-Dade, according to MIT’s Living Wage Calculator. — Max Klaver, Miami Herald, 3 Oct. 2026

Now, the camera behind the windshield needs to be calibrated, said Ariella Czeisler, Ralph’s daughter who also works in the shop. — Robert Ferris, CNBC, 3 Oct. 2026

As a market-maker and pioneer, L’Oréal Professionnel needs to innovate in technical and technological ways others cannot, according to Le Bleis. — Jennifer Weil, Footwear News, 2 Oct. 2026

Rather than overwhelming the room with HR metrics, focus on the few measures and trends that matter to the decisions the board needs to make. — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 2 Oct. 2026

The urge to act quickly could be strong, but not every realization needs an immediate dramatic response. — Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 26 Sep. 2026

The drone also needs to know exactly where the branch is, and that’s when things get tricky. — Maryna Holovnova, New Atlas, 26 Sep. 2026

Noun

Mercury in your 10th House squares Mars in your partnership zone, so another person’s needs or opinions may push against your plans, reputation, or sense of direction. — Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 2 Oct. 2026

Although there is Palestinian opposition to a two-state solution, a growing proportion—now a majority—wants it, and yearns for more capable and responsible leadership that addresses their needs and provides security. — Michael Robbins, Foreign Affairs, 2 Oct. 2026

The artists grants and the Culture Stability Fund are both great opportunities to be able to meet the needs of the field, which is facing those federal funding cuts, as well as facing challenges with real estate and displacement. — Maximilíano Durón, ARTnews.com, 2 Oct. 2026

But other fairly savvy users among tech mavens don’t point to urgent needs that only Muse can satisfy. — Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026

The African Development Bank is holding talks with financiers, with the aim of finding ways to mobilize around $4 trillion in untapped domestic capital to fund the continent’s development needs, its president said. — semafor.com, 2 Oct. 2026

The assumed inference is that travelers rely on Google for their travel needs and that informative brochures and knowledgeable attendants are a quaint idea that has outlived its usefulness. — Frank Hosek, Chicago Tribune, 2 Oct. 2026

What if considering the needs of others wasn’t simply something taught to children, but also incorporated into the way institutions operate? — Wyles Daniel, Miami Herald, 2 Oct. 2026

Rather than treating negative reactions as a definitive failure, founders can use them to identify what resonates, uncover unmet needs and determine which assumptions need to change. — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 25 Sep. 2026