as in poverty
the state of lacking sufficient money or material possessions
a family's general level of neediness is the determining factor in the allocation of charitable donations
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Recent Examples of neediness
Managers frequently mistake flexibility for a weak work ethic, mental health discussions for fragility, transparency for disrespect, and feedback requests for neediness.
—
Mark Murphy,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2026
To play Duncan Park, the head of a data-mining company who’s desperate to join the upper tier of the tech industry hierarchy in the AMC drama The Audacity, Billy Magnussen has to find a deep well of neediness and striving.
—
Rick Porter,
HollywoodReporter,
2 June 2026
Is Suzanna’s gloomy neediness all that different from Becky’s gold-digging manipulations?
—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
6 Apr. 2026
Fontana is wearing a little thin on me with the constant neediness for approval.
—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
7 Mar. 2026
She was sandwiched between their needinesses.
—
Literary Hub,
5 Jan. 2026
On the second take, Russell’s bossy tone rubbed up nicely against the neediness of the moment.
—
Emily Nussbaum,
New Yorker,
6 Oct. 2025
As Koestler observes, crying is a signal not just of surrender but of neediness, designed to elicit succor and comfort from sympathizers.
—
Big Think,
23 Sep. 2025
Still, Shannon is down in the dumps and annoyed by Tamra’s neediness to be forgiven for past sins.
—
Peter Larsen,
Oc Register,
19 Sep. 2025
Mark Murphy,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2026
To play Duncan Park, the head of a data-mining company who’s desperate to join the upper tier of the tech industry hierarchy in the AMC drama The Audacity, Billy Magnussen has to find a deep well of neediness and striving.
—
Rick Porter,
HollywoodReporter,
2 June 2026
Is Suzanna’s gloomy neediness all that different from Becky’s gold-digging manipulations?
—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
6 Apr. 2026
Fontana is wearing a little thin on me with the constant neediness for approval.
—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
7 Mar. 2026
She was sandwiched between their needinesses.
—
Literary Hub,
5 Jan. 2026
On the second take, Russell’s bossy tone rubbed up nicely against the neediness of the moment.
—
Emily Nussbaum,
New Yorker,
6 Oct. 2025
As Koestler observes, crying is a signal not just of surrender but of neediness, designed to elicit succor and comfort from sympathizers.
—
Big Think,
23 Sep. 2025
Still, Shannon is down in the dumps and annoyed by Tamra’s neediness to be forgiven for past sins.
—
Peter Larsen,
Oc Register,
19 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for neediness
Noun
-
Or that Franciscan fathers — members of an order dedicated to lives of poverty and humility — forced tribes to give up their foods, customs and religion in the name of Christ, rewarding them with serfdom.
-
In recent years, Lampedusa has become Ground Zero of Europe’s migration debate as the continent struggles to police its borders while honoring its legal obligations to welcome refugees fleeing conflict, climate change and poverty.
Noun
-
The Charlotte region will start feeling like a frying pan come Wednesday, and forecasters expect the sticky misery to linger into next week.
-
But the misery of the heat would add to the story told over natural wine at a bar back home.
Cite this Entry
“Neediness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/neediness. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
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