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

Cancer June 21 – July 22 Your public message needs a calmer filter today. — Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 4 Aug. 2026

Build for the Future, Optimize the Present The state of the art, as of mid-2026, showcases agentic AI that works but needs manual guidance. — Michael Wee, Forbes.com, 3 Aug. 2026

Tight end Luke Schoonmaker — The 2023 second-round pick heads into his contract year and needs to show value beyond the four core special teams units after his production was cut in half from already low 2024 numbers. — Nick Harris. Story Produced With Ai Assistance, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Aug. 2026

To put it in its crassest terms, the story needs to come before the reporter. — K.j. Yossman, Variety, 3 Aug. 2026

Much of the process still needs to be sorted out, including what locations Liverpool would target and whether the club would run these businesses itself or license the operations to a third-party partner. — Justin Birnbaum, Sportico.com, 3 Aug. 2026

Not that the planet needs any help with record-setting temperatures. — Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 3 Aug. 2026

At the same time, the town needs more housing for incoming workers as well as current residents who want generations of their families to be able to live locally. — Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 3 Aug. 2026

Grandfathered into the history of the hotel is Top of the East—just the kind of old-school, sprawling rooftop lounge with a drop-dead panoramic view of the twinkling town that every city needs. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 July 2026

Noun

Each day, a rotating group of about 25 dedicated volunteers operate the center to support about 40 to 50 unhoused individuals, ensuring their basic needs are met. — Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 10 Aug. 2026

Later, Venus opposes Neptune in your 4th House of Home, so private emotions or family needs may blur your focus. — Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 10 Aug. 2026

Although the agreement is for all of the more than 3 trillion cubic feet (tcf) of gas in Cronos to go to Europe, there’s a clause in the deal so that about a fifth of that amount could be used to cover some of Egypt’s domestic energy needs. — ABC News, 9 Aug. 2026

Choosing the right dog food ultimately depends on your pet's individual needs and your budget. — Kasey Caminiti, USA Today, 9 Aug. 2026

European consumers can expect natural gas from an undersea deposit off Cyprus to help meet their energy needs as early as March 2028, the island nation’s energy minister said. — Menelaos Hadjicostis, Fortune, 9 Aug. 2026

Alcohol-free doesn’t automatically mean healthy so adjust sweeteners to suit your guests’ dietary needs. — Ryan Brennan august 9, Kansas City Star, 9 Aug. 2026

This allowed Amanda to collect data and better understand the scale and specific needs of local families before the summer. — Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 2 Aug. 2026

Origis Energy signed long-term supply agreements with major corporate partners, including Meta, Occidental, dsm-firmenich, and Bekaert, to help meet their long-term power needs. — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 2 Aug. 2026