Synonyms of require

require

verb

ri-ˈkwī(-ə)r 

as in to need

to have as a requirement

the toy requires four batteries, which are not included

Synonyms & Similar Words

• need
• want
• take
• involve
• necessitate
• demand
• warrant
• call for
• claim
• challenge
• entail
• ask
• bear
• beg
• lack
• insist
• cry (for)
• hurt (for)
• stipulate
• enjoin
• exact
• quest
• clamor (for)
• command
• press

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• have
• hold
• possess
• own

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb require contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of require are claim, demand, and exact. While all these words mean "to ask or call for something as due or as necessary," require suggests the imperativeness that arises from inner necessity, compulsion of law or regulation, or the exigencies of the situation.

the patient requires constant attention

When is it sensible to use claim instead of require?

The synonyms claim and require are sometimes interchangeable, but claim implies a demand for the delivery or concession of something due as one's own or one's right.

claimed the right to manage his own affairs

When is demand a more appropriate choice than require?

While the synonyms demand and require are close in meaning, demand implies peremptoriness and insistence and often the right to make requests that are to be regarded as commands.

demanded payment of the debt

Where would exact be a reasonable alternative to require?

In some situations, the words exact and require are roughly equivalent. However, exact implies not only demanding but getting what one demands.

exacts absolute loyalty

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of require

For bikinis, many shoppers will require a different size in the top and bottom. — Alexandra Malmed, InStyle, 16 July 2026

As required by law, the siblings subsequently both placed ads in the Los Angeles Daily Journal once a week for four consecutive weeks in June and July, giving anyone who objects to the possible change a chance to register their objection. — Alli Rosenbloom, CNN Money, 16 July 2026

Each will require a Democratic Party more or less at peace with itself, and one that recognizes its need for both some coherence and some flexibility. — Bill McKibben, New Yorker, 16 July 2026

Roses require nutrient-rich, well-draining soil for healthy growth. — Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 16 July 2026