needier; neediest
1
: being in want : poverty-stricken
needy families
… where needy children from the community could come to get free, nutritious meals.—
Liza N. Burby
Liza N. Burby2
: marked by want of affection, attention, or emotional support
emotionally needy
The girl was needy for her mother's affection.
neediness
noun
Examples of needy in a Sentence
As a child, she was extremely needy and had no self-confidence.
those generous souls who regularly give money and donate clothes to help the needy
Recent Examples on the Web
From a writing standpoint, Pawbert was rewritten to be just as needy after the big reveal, and Andy Samberg was cast in an effort to play off the comedian’s nice guy persona.
—Chris O'Falt, IndieWire, 19 Feb. 2026
Expanding its Space to Grow program, which builds eco-friendly playgrounds in needy neighborhoods, is a priority.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 18 Feb. 2026
It was originally billed by Democrats in Annapolis as a way to grow renewable energy production, help improve energy efficiency in needy communities and bring down energy prices.
—Justin Ready, Baltimore Sun, 15 Feb. 2026
The opposition between needy Luna and independent Uranus empowers your intuition.
—Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 9 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for needy
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Chris O'Falt, IndieWire, 19 Feb. 2026
Expanding its Space to Grow program, which builds eco-friendly playgrounds in needy neighborhoods, is a priority.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 18 Feb. 2026
It was originally billed by Democrats in Annapolis as a way to grow renewable energy production, help improve energy efficiency in needy communities and bring down energy prices.
—Justin Ready, Baltimore Sun, 15 Feb. 2026
The opposition between needy Luna and independent Uranus empowers your intuition.
—Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 9 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for needy
Cite this Entry
“Needy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/needy. Accessed 26 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
needy
adjective
needier; neediest
1
: being in want : very poor
needy families
2
: marked by want of affection, attention, or emotional support
a tendency to be emotionally needy
neediness
noun
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