needs 1 of 3

Definition of needsnext
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

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needs

2 of 3

verb

present tense third-person singular of need
1
2
as in must
to be under necessity or obligation to you need not stand when she enters the room

Synonyms & Similar Words

needs

3 of 3

noun

plural of need

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 needs
Verb
Working and not getting paid and gas prices are extremely high -- like everybody needs their money. Arkansas Online, 22 Mar. 2026 But not every great season needs a trophy to back it up. Dave Hyde, Sun Sentinel, 22 Mar. 2026 Or the beginning farmer paying land rental rates that spiked with the Ukraine war and who needs a few thousand gallons of diesel to get his crop in the ground in the next six weeks. Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 22 Mar. 2026 The chemistry between the cast needs time to settle, and the reaction on TikTok and Instagram will likely inform which sketches have legs (the Head Wound Harrys and David S Pumpkins, so to speak), and which end up in the writers’ room bin. Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 22 Mar. 2026 Since theater owners get to keep about half of ticket sales, Amazon MGM needs the movie to stick around beyond its debut to justify the price tag. Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 22 Mar. 2026 The stress response activates when situations such as looming deadlines, financial worries or dangerous encounters signal the body needs to react. Daryl Austin, USA Today, 22 Mar. 2026 All of the specialized schools in their home state of Virginia had deemed their son Ethan’s needs too severe to manage. Meg Wingerter, Denver Post, 22 Mar. 2026 Working and not getting paid and gas prices are extremely high — like everybody needs their money. CBS News, 22 Mar. 2026
Noun
Wellness screenings offer a non-invasive analysis of each guest’s key biomarkers to understand individual needs. Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Mar. 2026 February 19 – March 20 Small choices ought to honor your current needs. Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 28 Mar. 2026 As participation has grown, so have the operational needs required to safely store, transport, and distribute food at this scale. News Release, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Mar. 2026 However, Xcel said in its March 2 report on Comanche that options to cover electricity needs over the next few years include keeping Comanche 2 operating beyond the current retirement date at the end of 2026 and keeping two coal units at Hayden Station in Routt County running until 2030. Judith Kohler, Denver Post, 28 Mar. 2026 And what did his mother pack that will fill all his needs? Mary Ann Grossmann, Twin Cities, 28 Mar. 2026 Preparation means understanding your client’s business, their operational needs, and their financial guardrails. Allen Buchanan, Oc Register, 28 Mar. 2026 List your values, wants and needs. Olivia Munson, USA Today, 28 Mar. 2026 Rather than restricting grid access, legislation should require that data centers be designed for grid interactivity — the ability to dynamically adjust energy consumption in coordination with the grid’s needs. Brian Barlow, Fortune, 28 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for needs
Adverb
  • Smith said while there won't be necessarily be a direct return for the City of Decatur, the prioritization is really on the local businesses.
    Irene Wright, USA Today, 25 Mar. 2026
  • The Green New Deal imagined a total economic transformation that would create millions of jobs while, necessarily, leaving fossil fuels in the ground.
    David Weigel, semafor.com, 25 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • After all, walking requires no gym membership, expensive equipment or specialized training and is accessible to nearly everyone and can be done almost anywhere.
    Daryl Austin, USA Today, 29 Mar. 2026
  • Navigating the country can take time and often requires long drives and a 4x4 vehicle, especially during the green season.
    Meghan Palmer, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • The block party is free, but people who want to attend must RSVP.
    Chantelle Lee, Time, 30 Dec. 2025
Noun
  • Framed as deregulation, the bill sets a statewide minimum lot size of 1,500 square feet while also shrinking setbacks and eliminating dimensional requirements that could stand in the way of building multiple compact homes on at least four acres of land.
    Mark Dee March 28, Idaho Statesman, 28 Mar. 2026
  • No ban on mask-wearing federal agents and no requirements for judicial warrants for immigration raids were in the final deal, which could spark a new clash once Congress returns from spring break.
    Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 27 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • The 2012 nationalization of Argentina's largest energy company, further damaged Argentina’s international standing by reinforcing its history of abandoning its global financial obligations.
    ABC News, ABC News, 27 Mar. 2026
  • Netflix and Disney+ consider investment obligations imposed by Wallonia-Brussels as disproportionate, given the size of the region.
    Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 27 Mar. 2026
Adverb
  • Even if one accepts that perfectly reasonable people are happy to live in a bubble with strangers for months in hopes of achieving love, fame or a cash prize, someone inevitably is cast to bring the crazy, er, conversation-sparking personality.
    Culture Critic, Los Angeles Times, 21 Mar. 2026
  • Originally opened in 1931 as Bellevue Hospital’s psychiatric ward, the 30th Street Men’s Shelter—inevitably still referred to as Bellevue—became an anchor of New York’s shelter system.
    Molly Fischer, New Yorker, 20 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Kennedy, a fiscal conservative, wants to pay for its costs, though that detail will need to be worked out with other senators.
    Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 25 Mar. 2026
  • Si wants to move past that framing.
    Elaine Yu, CNBC, 25 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Brinson is now worried about affording basic necessities.
    Steve Maugeri, CBS News, 21 Mar. 2026
  • In the past, the agency has said that Dilley offers families a safe environment equipped with access to educational materials, child care necessities and round-the-clock medical and mental health care.
    Mica Rosenberg, ProPublica, 20 Mar. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Needs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/needs. Accessed 30 Mar. 2026.

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