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
Griffin said the county also needs to be mindful of ensuring access throughout the county to vital services, especially as other facilities continue to age, and consider whether more promotion is needed to inform the public about what the community resource centers offer. Mary Ramsey april 6, Charlotte Observer, 6 Apr. 2026 From Hollywood, California, to Hollywood, Florida, the wage standard needs nurturing and protecting with whatever tools are available. John Cassidy, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2026 The parent needs to launch this adult, not enable them. R. Eric Thomas, Denver Post, 6 Apr. 2026 Assess needs and then make changes accordingly. Metro Creative Services, Boston Herald, 6 Apr. 2026 If someone important needs the details, outline the basics of your agreement, confirm it in writing, and then decide who handles the first step. Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 5 Apr. 2026 The zucchini frittata needs a few more minutes on the stove. Liam Scott, Washington Post, 5 Apr. 2026 Yung shares that one of the best ways to understand what your hair needs is to make mental notes of the changes between washes. Meredith Wilshere, PEOPLE, 5 Apr. 2026 But the president needs a strategy, and the strategy is not just bomb the living hell or bomb Iran to the Stone Ages. ABC News, 5 Apr. 2026
Noun
Because this energy is centered in Scorpio and Cancer, we’re blessed with the depth of soul needed to accept the true needs of others and ourselves. Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 4 Apr. 2026 Specifically, one cup of dairy milk offers 310 milligrams of calcium (about 25 percent of your daily needs) and 8 grams of complete protein, according to Ehsani. Kirsten Nunez, Martha Stewart, 4 Apr. 2026 Miami still has major needs at edge defender, cornerback, safety and on the offensive line, while wide receiver could easily rise to the forefront of those needs after the trade that sent Jaylen Waddle to the Denver Broncos. David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 4 Apr. 2026 Catholic Charities responds to some of our communities’ most urgent needs. Marek Kukulka, Hartford Courant, 4 Apr. 2026 Spacecraft menus are developed to meet the crews' nutritional needs and support their performance while also aligning with crew members’ food preferences and what the spacecraft can actually accommodate. Joseph Erbentraut, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Apr. 2026 Chadwick said the University of Kansas Hospital will continue partnerships with hospitals across the metro that provide PICU services to help meet patient needs. Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 4 Apr. 2026 Those needs are likely to mean a more thorough dive into the transfer portal and additional exploration of the Canadian major junior leagues — two areas where Motzko’s program did not play very often. Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 4 Apr. 2026 Preparation means understanding your client’s business, their operational needs, and their financial guardrails. Allen Buchanan, Oc Register, 28 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for needs
Adverb
  • The new biennials that emerged in non-Western cities in these years offered an alternative to this idea that difference necessarily leads to conflict, proposing spaces in which difference could be staged without being territorialized.
    Daniel Birnbaum, Artforum, 2 Apr. 2026
  • Not that any of this will necessarily be a problem for the youngsters, or for nostalgic adults who grew up playing the Nintendo games and seem intent on never moving on from their childhood obsessions.
    Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 31 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Libra September 23 – October 22 Libra, balance requires substance behind the smile.
    Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 5 Apr. 2026
  • The challenge is that manure is already extremely nutrient-dense—often providing far more nitrogen and phosphorus than even a productive garden requires.
    Anthony Reardon, Kansas City Star, 4 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • The block party is free, but people who want to attend must RSVP.
    Chantelle Lee, Time, 30 Dec. 2025
Noun
  • Membership there had political as well as social requirements.
    Michael Gorra, The New York Review of Books, 4 Apr. 2026
  • The tax, plus the bill’s disclosure requirements, would deter third parties from offering this funding and could inadvertently dox conservative activists and donors.
    George Harris, The Orlando Sentinel, 3 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • The letter declared the company in default of its contractual obligations with Miami-Dade County and demanded a fix to problems that had forced garages to let an unknown number of travelers exit without paying.
    Vinod Sreeharsha, Miami Herald, 3 Apr. 2026
  • Lamont and the legislature also failed to budget adequately for certain legal obligations.
    Keith M. Phaneuf, Hartford Courant, 2 Apr. 2026
Adverb
  • Each time a cell divides, its DNA is copied, but mistakes inevitably creep in.
    Jerome Groopman, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2026
  • Kuo believes the question of unification will inevitably be resolved during Xi’s tenure, but is concerned Xi will opt for a more aggressive approach, such as a blockade or invasion, as relations between Beijing and Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party have deteriorated.
    Stephanie Yang, CNN Money, 4 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • October 23 – November 21 Creativity wants a stage — and willing partners.
    Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 8 Apr. 2026
  • Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund has shown interest in a team in London; Qatar Sports Investment, the owners of soccer giant PSG, is eying one in Paris; and RedBird Capital, which owns AC Milan and is an investor in Paramount, wants a team in Milan.
    Mike Vorkunov, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Despite numerous complaints to health inspectors from elderly people that Salmos 23 left them wanting the most basic necessities — like toilet paper — DCF chose it as a refuge over hundreds of other homes.
    Carol Marbin Miller, Miami Herald, 2 Apr. 2026
  • Because these orders were issued without sufficient planning for necessities, many households ran short of food.
    Michael Schuman, The Atlantic, 1 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Needs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/needs. Accessed 9 Apr. 2026.

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