as in necessarily
because of necessity
the dangers of global warming must needs be recognized—and recognized soon—by the industrialized nations of the world
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
1
as in requires
to have as a requirement
a national crisis that needs a strong leader to solve it
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in requirements
something necessary, indispensable, or unavoidable
got a job that barely provided for his basic needs
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in obligations
something one must do because of prior agreement
no need to apologize
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 needs
Johnny C. Taylor Jr,
USA Today,
30 June 2026
While Schmid fills the role of a high-end backup, Florida still needs to acquire a starting-caliber goaltender prior to the start of the season with both Sergei Bobrovsky and Daniil Tarasov departing.
—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
30 June 2026
Gen asks to speak to Luke privately, and his ready agreement is all Joy needs to see to understand what’s going on.
—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
30 June 2026
Given the scale of the tragedy and the size of its foreign debt, Venezuela needs far more than the aid now arriving to assist those affected and rebuild its infrastructure.
—
Gonzalo Zegarra,
CNN Money,
29 June 2026
If a contender needs a right-handed bat, though, there could be an opportunity for the Giants to address what has become an imbalanced roster for both the short and not-so-short term.
—
Andrew Baggarly,
New York Times,
29 June 2026
One hardly needs a list of blue zones to think of commonsense ways to improve life span.
—
Dhruv Khullar,
New Yorker,
29 June 2026
Use the engine cut‑off switch – if your boat has one, the operator needs to wear the lanyard or keep the fob on their person.
—
Matthew Ablon,
CBS News,
29 June 2026
This has been superseded now by Intelligent Octopus Go, that needs no human intervention but uses AI to seamlessly optimise the EV charging based on energy costs and grid capacity.
—
Sarwant Singh,
Forbes.com,
29 June 2026
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
28 June 2026
Raising this concern to the funeral director is a great option as that person may have encountered a similar situation and be fully prepared to help walk the family through it with sensitivity to the needs of all involved.
—
R. Eric Thomas,
Chicago Tribune,
27 June 2026
While musicals, with their higher production costs and specific talent needs, still pursue long runs, plays are increasingly adopting this profitable, rapid turnover approach.
—
Katie North,
Forbes.com,
27 June 2026
The Leafs certainly have some needs to address.
—
Matt Reigle,
FOXNews.com,
27 June 2026
For most islanders—not to mention for most of us watching—the search for love is a false grail, belying a rabid, desperate host of social needs that actively undermine the pursuit.
—
Lillian Fishman,
New Yorker,
27 June 2026
Especially his warning that political parties would put their own needs before those of the people.
—
Jennifer Ludden,
NPR,
27 June 2026
District officials said staffing and budget decisions are made at the school and department level by building and department leaders based on the needs of individual schools and departments.
—
Dillon Thomas,
CBS News,
21 June 2026
The Powdered Facial Masks can be mixed to customize according to your skin needs.
—
ABC News,
20 June 2026
Verb
Workforce needs, customer expectations, and business conditions evolve, and leaders have to be willing to adjust if the model stops delivering results.
—
Johnny C. Taylor Jr,
USA Today,
30 June 2026
While Schmid fills the role of a high-end backup, Florida still needs to acquire a starting-caliber goaltender prior to the start of the season with both Sergei Bobrovsky and Daniil Tarasov departing.
—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
30 June 2026
Gen asks to speak to Luke privately, and his ready agreement is all Joy needs to see to understand what’s going on.
—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
30 June 2026
Given the scale of the tragedy and the size of its foreign debt, Venezuela needs far more than the aid now arriving to assist those affected and rebuild its infrastructure.
—
Gonzalo Zegarra,
CNN Money,
29 June 2026
If a contender needs a right-handed bat, though, there could be an opportunity for the Giants to address what has become an imbalanced roster for both the short and not-so-short term.
—
Andrew Baggarly,
New York Times,
29 June 2026
One hardly needs a list of blue zones to think of commonsense ways to improve life span.
—
Dhruv Khullar,
New Yorker,
29 June 2026
Use the engine cut‑off switch – if your boat has one, the operator needs to wear the lanyard or keep the fob on their person.
—
Matthew Ablon,
CBS News,
29 June 2026
This has been superseded now by Intelligent Octopus Go, that needs no human intervention but uses AI to seamlessly optimise the EV charging based on energy costs and grid capacity.
—
Sarwant Singh,
Forbes.com,
29 June 2026
Noun
Handle power dynamics well by stating needs and listening for fears beneath reactions.
—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
28 June 2026
Raising this concern to the funeral director is a great option as that person may have encountered a similar situation and be fully prepared to help walk the family through it with sensitivity to the needs of all involved.
—
R. Eric Thomas,
Chicago Tribune,
27 June 2026
While musicals, with their higher production costs and specific talent needs, still pursue long runs, plays are increasingly adopting this profitable, rapid turnover approach.
—
Katie North,
Forbes.com,
27 June 2026
The Leafs certainly have some needs to address.
—
Matt Reigle,
FOXNews.com,
27 June 2026
For most islanders—not to mention for most of us watching—the search for love is a false grail, belying a rabid, desperate host of social needs that actively undermine the pursuit.
—
Lillian Fishman,
New Yorker,
27 June 2026
Especially his warning that political parties would put their own needs before those of the people.
—
Jennifer Ludden,
NPR,
27 June 2026
District officials said staffing and budget decisions are made at the school and department level by building and department leaders based on the needs of individual schools and departments.
—
Dillon Thomas,
CBS News,
21 June 2026
The Powdered Facial Masks can be mixed to customize according to your skin needs.
—
ABC News,
20 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for needs
Adverb
-
And so, offering cheap options, albeit with large deductibles and possible coverage gaps, is a way to address affordability without necessarily undermining the law.
-
The rise of PhD founders is also AI-driven—not because AI companies necessarily require a founder with a doctorate, but because AI has accelerated breakthroughs in robotics, cybersecurity, and autonomous software.
Verb
-
Not every driver wants a truck that requires DIY installations or extreme customization to include basic features.
-
The article concludes that genuine empowerment requires substantial capital investment, not just goodwill, to build effective support systems.
Verb
-
The block party is free, but people who want to attend must RSVP.
Noun
-
The legal action is part of a broader series of disputes in the streaming industry over carriage rights, bundling requirements and pricing control.
-
The secret agreement was routed through a White House office that typically handles repairs and furnishings and is exempt from competitive bidding requirements.
Noun
-
Assisting with payroll tax issues, sales tax audits, and business restructuring to satisfy tax obligations.
-
Financial privacy erodes gradually through risk assessments, compliance obligations, information sharing partnerships and international standards presented as technical rather than political.
Adverb
-
Ronaldo’s onetime Real Madrid teammate Luka Modrić, 40, of Croatia, won the player of the tournament award at the 2018 World Cup, although his ability to hold sway over the midfield for 90 minutes is inevitably on the wane.
-
Political calculations surrounding the 2028 presidential election inevitably shape these competing perspectives, but electoral considerations cannot replace strategic reality.
Verb
-
By establishing child care as a valid use of campaign funds, Grechen Shirley said, the question is no longer who can afford to run for office, but who really wants to serve their community.
-
If James wants to return to the Heat, the team would have interest, a source conveyed to The Miami Herald on Tuesday.
Verb
-
Scherzer is now on the IL with back spasms, still trying to will his way back to his old self.
-
Messi willed Argentina to victory in the 2022 World Cup, won four UEFA Champions League titles with Barcelona and was honored a record eight times with the Ballon d’Or, given the world’s top player each year.
Cite this Entry
“Needs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/needs. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
