as in necessities
something necessary, indispensable, or unavoidable
hiking boots are a must-have for this trip
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Recent Examples of must-haves
The quilted carryall is plenty roomy for hauling your gym clothes to the office or fitting it all of your must-haves for a busy spring weekend—say, a beach getaway or a whirl around a theme park.
—
Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 25 Apr. 2026
Shop clothing, bird feeders, quilts, tank tops, outdoor furniture, garden must-haves, and more—from $7.
—Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 Apr. 2026
Shop my Disneyland must-haves at Amazon, starting at just $3.
—Jamie Allison Sanders, PEOPLE, 12 Apr. 2026
Easily Accessible Essentials Dabito emphasizes that must-haves like high-quality toilet paper should be clearly visible and easy to reach.
—Kate Donovan, Martha Stewart, 11 Apr. 2026
This shopping guide features our 15 top picks for spring outdoor living and entertaining, from backyard barbecue must-haves to garden party decor, all made in Georgia.
—C.w. Cameron, AJC.com, 3 Apr. 2026
Hill cites two products as her absolute must-haves.
—Jake Henry Smith, Glamour, 2 Apr. 2026
The fashion lovers of the world may jet off to cities like London, Milan, New York and Paris to see the latest runway must-haves.
—Brian Womack, Dallas Morning News, 16 Mar. 2026
The Big Spring Sale is similar to Amazon’s popular Prime Day shopping events but centers specifically on seasonal must-haves.
—ABC News, 16 Mar. 2026
Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 25 Apr. 2026
Shop clothing, bird feeders, quilts, tank tops, outdoor furniture, garden must-haves, and more—from $7.
—Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 Apr. 2026
Shop my Disneyland must-haves at Amazon, starting at just $3.
—Jamie Allison Sanders, PEOPLE, 12 Apr. 2026
Easily Accessible Essentials Dabito emphasizes that must-haves like high-quality toilet paper should be clearly visible and easy to reach.
—Kate Donovan, Martha Stewart, 11 Apr. 2026
This shopping guide features our 15 top picks for spring outdoor living and entertaining, from backyard barbecue must-haves to garden party decor, all made in Georgia.
—C.w. Cameron, AJC.com, 3 Apr. 2026
Hill cites two products as her absolute must-haves.
—Jake Henry Smith, Glamour, 2 Apr. 2026
The fashion lovers of the world may jet off to cities like London, Milan, New York and Paris to see the latest runway must-haves.
—Brian Womack, Dallas Morning News, 16 Mar. 2026
The Big Spring Sale is similar to Amazon’s popular Prime Day shopping events but centers specifically on seasonal must-haves.
—ABC News, 16 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for must-haves
Noun
-
The poll, conducted at the beginning of April, adds to a picture of economic gloom in the US, as Americans worry about the affordability of gas and other necessities and express pessimism about the job market.—
Morgan Chalfant,
semafor.com,
29 Apr. 2026
-
The clash between misguided concepts of individual freedom and the necessities of social responsibility won’t end soon.—
Orlando Sentinel,
The Orlando Sentinel,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The system establishes operational standards through its three main functions that develop incentives while tracking performance and ensuring projects meet actual environmental requirements.—
Lyssanoel Frater,
USA Today,
1 May 2026
-
The guns must meet certain size and weight requirements.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
1 May 2026
Noun
-
Those are musts if Minnesota plans to grab a game in this trip to Colorado.—
Jace Frederick,
Twin Cities,
18 Apr. 2026
-
Other musts include Yummi Yarns, Burnsville Candle Company, and Something Special Gift Shop, a local favorite for 40 years.—
Kristy Tolley,
Travel + Leisure,
15 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Must-haves.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/must-haves. Accessed 4 May. 2026.
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