needful 1 of 2

adjective

ˈnēd-fəl How to pronounce needful (audio)
Definition of needfulnext
1
as in necessary
impossible to do without purchase needful provisions

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in poor
lacking money or material possessions let's first help the needful families in our own community

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

needful

2 of 2

noun

1
as in money
something (as pieces of stamped metal or printed paper) customarily and legally used as a medium of exchange, a measure of value, or a means of payment fortunately, the family had the needful to stock up the larder before the long hard winter

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2
as in must
something necessary, indispensable, or unavoidable packed a warm jacket and other needfuls for an autumn weekend in the country

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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 needful
Adjective
Her voice is slurred, needful, abject. — Jayson Greene, Pitchfork, 8 May 2026 That image of God never has a problem, never has a disease, never lacks anything needful or truly desirable, and has never sinned. — Douglas Sytsma, Christian Science Monitor, 30 Jan. 2025 Who promises tomorrows to a whole needful planet, restrikes that match? — Corey Van Landingham, The New Yorker, 19 June 2023 They are not found to be such on the injustice and violence of individuals, and lose their efficacy in proportion to the number combined together, that is, in proportion as their efficacy becomes needful. — James Freeman, WSJ, 27 Dec. 2022 For Queen and other Black poets, hip-hop is not only beats and rhymes but something more needful. — Adam Bradley, New York Times, 4 Mar. 2021 Oxfam exhorts its supporters to send things to the needful Cratchits of the developing world. — Matthew Sweet, The Economist, 4 Dec. 2020 McBride was touched by the way, in their later years, Marcroft was the primary caregiver for Joyce, who had become needful of that care. — Gordon Monson, The Salt Lake Tribune, 17 Nov. 2020 Sometimes environments and selection pressures change radically, and large effect mutations may become needful. — Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 18 May 2010
Noun
The actor did indeed ‘get it together’ and is doing the needful to make things official. — Elizabeth Ayoola, Essence, 4 Nov. 2024 Even on this side of the border, the supply of people without legal status but needful of income has led to employers’ brazenly violating child-labor laws. — The Editors, National Review, 5 May 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for needful
  1. necessary
  2. poor
  3. money
  4. must
  5. essential
  6. impoverished
  7. cash
  8. requirement
Adjective
  • Addressing workers at the company’s headquarters in Wolfsburg, Germany, Volkswagen Group CEO Oliver Blume warned Tuesday that eliminating tens of thousands of jobs could be necessary to remain competitive.
    — Maegan Vazquez, Washington Post, 28 Aug. 2026
  • The equipment in the classroom is also outdated and no longer reaches performance capabilities necessary for modern digital art, web design and 2D and 3D imaging, officials said.
    — Cam'ron Hardy, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of necessary
Adjective
  • Dozens of companies have withdrawn over the past decades due to poor profits, an uncertain business outlook and concerns about harm to their reputations from making arms, especially lethal weapons.
    — Mia Osmonbekov, Fortune, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Along the way, the audience can expect tons of humiliation, terrible second prizes, and the guarantee that Robertson will turn at least one poor soul's wrong turn into several minutes of unhinged public destruction.
    — Rebecca Rosman, NPR, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of poor
Noun
  • Celebrity has always been commercial, and famous people have always converted attention into money.
    — Laura Jung, Vogue, 25 Aug. 2026
  • For one, California’s program has that annual cap on the total amount of money that can be awarded as production incentives, a limit that does not exist in other states and countries.
    — Samantha Masunaga, Los Angeles Times, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of money
Noun
  • Seafood is the star of the show here—especially the shrimp and grits and crab cakes, which Bernthal says are a must-order.
    — Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Downtown shopping is a must, Southern Living says, with a local bookstore and village shop.
    — Eva Flowe August 26, Charlotte Observer, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of must
Adjective
  • Those plans must cover essential health benefits, such as prescription drugs and mental health coverage.
    — Sarah Agostino, CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Using the 50/30/20 budgeting rule, SmartAsset assumed these essential costs make up 50% of your budget.
    — Angela Rodriguez, Sacbee.com, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of essential
Adjective
  • But perhaps the most impressive thing the seemingly tireless Parton did during her 80 years was donate much of her wealth to impoverished communities.
    — Donna Vickroy, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2026
  • The loosened restrictions will not empower Washington to pursue investment and economic cooperation with al Sharaa’s government, which could transform the impoverished country.
    — Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of impoverished
Noun
  • West Suburban closed in March, after the hospital’s CEO said problems with the billing systems left the hospital short on cash.
    — Lisa Schencker, Chicago Tribune, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Down payment expectations are meaningfully larger too; these programs generally want the borrower to have real equity in the deal from day one, and the strongest pricing goes to borrowers who bring more cash and better credit.
    — Karen Koehler, Miami Herald, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of cash
Noun
  • Some have no down payment requirements, most have below-average interest rates and many come with lower closing costs and monthly payments, thanks to no PMI requirements.
    — Dan Simms, USA Today, 30 Aug. 2026
  • This allows individuals to evaluate the organization's mission, team dynamics, and actual time requirements.
    — Caroline Ceniza-Levine, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of requirement

Browse Nearby Words

needed
needful
needfulness
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Cite this Entry

“Needful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/needful. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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