1
as in requirement
something necessary, indispensable, or unavoidable
on any road trip, accurate maps are a necessity
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in poverty
the state of lacking sufficient money or material possessions
two years of unemployment had reduced the family to abject necessity
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of necessity
Conversely, the case for nationalizing the oil and gas industry is becoming an economic and environmental necessity.
—
Chicago Tribune, 13 Feb. 2026
Lawyers argued Simpson, who moved to Oklahoma City from New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina in 2005, had a diagnosis of PTSD resulting from the collapse of access to basic necessities in the wake of the natural disaster, according to the Death Penalty Information Center.
—Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 12 Feb. 2026
Most, if not all, of our clients are going out into the world as less than their whole selves out of necessity, as a survival tactic.
—Ashley Chalmers, The Spruce, 11 Feb. 2026
For working families in Montana and Wyoming, access to public land is a necessity, not a luxury.
—Karlee Provenza, Denver Post, 11 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for necessity
Chicago Tribune, 13 Feb. 2026
Lawyers argued Simpson, who moved to Oklahoma City from New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina in 2005, had a diagnosis of PTSD resulting from the collapse of access to basic necessities in the wake of the natural disaster, according to the Death Penalty Information Center.
—Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 12 Feb. 2026
Most, if not all, of our clients are going out into the world as less than their whole selves out of necessity, as a survival tactic.
—Ashley Chalmers, The Spruce, 11 Feb. 2026
For working families in Montana and Wyoming, access to public land is a necessity, not a luxury.
—Karlee Provenza, Denver Post, 11 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for necessity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for necessity
Noun
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Among the demands are a requirement for judicial warrants, better identification of DHS officers, new use of force standards and a stop to racial profiling.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
6 Feb. 2026
-
The amendment also cements that outside vendors contracted for requests for proposals should follow county procurement and ethics requirements.—
Claudia Levens,
jsonline.com,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Private schools, particularly Catholic schools, have demonstrated extraordinary success — even in communities struggling with poverty.—
Paul Vallas,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Feb. 2026
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In Detroit, where nearly half of children under 5 years old live below the poverty level, the launch marks the program's largest expansion.—
Nushrat Rahman,
Freep.com,
9 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Dancing shoes Fado music was born in Portugal, and its deeply emotive style, accompanied by string instruments, is a must-experience in Lisbon.—
Natalie Hammond,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Instead, estate planning, investing, and other long-term financial planning is a must.—
Sydney Lake,
Fortune,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Embracing misery is one kind of defiance; demanding to be heard is another.—
Inkoo Kang,
New Yorker,
5 Feb. 2026
-
This year, more than usual, a group of Florida lawmakers are clinging to a Biblical-sounding principle — and doing their best to ensure that the wages of sin are, at the very least, misery.—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
1 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Necessity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/necessity. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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