PREREQUISITE Synonyms: 78 Similar and Opposite Words

prerequisite 1 of 2

noun

Definition of prerequisite

as in requirement

something that you officially must have or do before you can have or do something else Citizenship is a prerequisite for voting. The introductory course is a prerequisite for the advanced-level courses. Having good credit is a prerequisite to applying for a loan.

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

prerequisite

2 of 2

adjective

as in necessary

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

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 prerequisite

Noun

Extraction is the prerequisite. — Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 25 June 2026 That number is down significantly in the past decade, which most experts credit to a straightforward combination of robust funding and a philosophy focused on offering housing without prerequisites, called housing first. — Quil Lawrence, NPR, 25 June 2026

Adjective

For early startup founders, analytics might feel like a distant worry—a need that has to be earned through prerequisite success, a problem for a bigger company. — Francois Lopitaux, Forbes.com, 23 Feb. 2026 Zinner completed prerequisite courses for medical school at UMiami in his junior year and returned to Johns Hopkins for his graduating senior year. — Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 26 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for prerequisite

Recent Examples of Synonyms for prerequisite

Noun

With low maintenance requirements and fast turnaround, Gripen provides an advanced and cost-effective fighter capability that is easy to operate and maintain, according to the company.

— Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 5 July 2026
DAFs carry no legal payout requirement — the dollars are irrevocably committed to charity, but on no particular schedule.

— Gabriel Alin Zainescu, Forbes.com, 5 July 2026

Definition of requirement

Adjective

Permits and city cooperation are necessary when large-scale private events require the use of public space (like street closures) or city services (more cops).

— Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 10 July 2026
Cooper encourages legislators to examine drivers of rising healthcare costs that made things like the ACA subsidies necessary in the first place.

— Joshua P. Cohen, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026

Definition of necessary

Noun

Meanwhile, the task of mediation was taken up by Qatar and Pakistan, with Pakistan becoming an unlikely host due to a combination of geographic necessity, deft diplomacy, and shifting regional alliances, analysts say.

— Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 11 July 2026
It is associated with being able to afford life’s necessities and the kind of strong economic rights found in Norway and other Scandinavian countries.

— Jeffrey Anvari-Clark, The Conversation, 10 July 2026

Definition of necessity

Adjective

The money will finance dozens of routine but essential items, such as a new roof, a 24-seat school bus and outrigger canoes that will be used by military veterans struggling with post-traumatic stress.

— Andre Mouchard, Oc Register, 10 July 2026
An amazing summer essential and handbag must-have, this refreshing body mist smells like sunshine in a bottle.

— BestReviews, Mercury News, 9 July 2026

Definition of essential

Adjective

The ruling aligned with the views of the Constitutional Court, which, in removing Yoon from office in April 2025, found that his martial law decree lacked legal grounds and failed to follow required procedures.

— ABC News, ABC News, 9 July 2026
Investigators reviewed Walmart surveillance footage, which police said captured the collision and showed the driver of the Ford F-250 inspecting the damage before leaving without providing the required information.

— Nicole Buss, Sacbee.com, 9 July 2026

Definition of required

Adjective

Both are well in the hunt for the World Cup’s Golden Boot award, having scored crucial winning goals for their countries almost every step of the way.

— Jack Pitt-Brooke, New York Times, 11 July 2026
The pieces of it that Weiden shares with us, including a passage about Native athletes’ crucial role in the early history of the sport of football, are eye-opening.

— Chris Hewitt, Boston Herald, 10 July 2026

Definition of crucial

Adjective

Thanks to soccer, often called the world’s beautiful game, many found a needed distraction.

— Alfredo Corchado, Los Angeles Times, 11 July 2026
Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz, who less than a week ago declared a state of emergency in his country following weeks of anti-government protests, said his country stood ready to provide any needed assistance.

— ABC News, ABC News, 25 June 2026

Definition of needed

Browse Nearby Words

prep schools

prerequisite

prerequisites

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Prerequisite.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prerequisite. Accessed 15 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of prerequisite

noun

adjective

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on prerequisite

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

loquacious

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

Popular in Wordplay

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 10

Popular

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

Games & Quizzes