as in necessary
impossible to do without
pack only what will be needed
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in required
to have as a requirement
a national crisis that needs a strong leader to solve it
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 needed
R. Christian Smith, Chicago Tribune, 26 Apr. 2026
Kurtis said Revesco is exploring low-income housing tax credits as a possible way to reduce the needed loan amount.
—Thomas Gounley, Denver Post, 21 Apr. 2026
The university also agreed to make needed repairs to the women’s outdoor track by the end of the current school year, and to replace the women’s lacrosse team’s turf field no later than 2028.
—Alex Riggins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Apr. 2026
The Terner Center said going to multiple agencies for needed funding adds costs because developers have to endure higher legal, staffing and compliance costs to manage additional applications and contracts.
—Andrew Khouri, Los Angeles Times, 15 Apr. 2026
But unless there’s enough to generate all the needed electricity, with some wind or solar left unused, the Ohio utility will power the data center’s additional activity with the next cheapest source, typically natural gas or coal.
—Arik Levinson, Mercury News, 7 Apr. 2026
Campbell, who ordinarily would represent DiZoglio in court to compel the Legislature to comply, has refused to do so on the flimsy excuse that DiZoglio has not provided needed information.
—Peter Lucas, Boston Herald, 23 Mar. 2026
The memo stated the federal government had started site preparation but blamed Pritzker for delaying the land purchase and a needed state permit.
—Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 21 Mar. 2026
The city’s discussion on the needed roadway improvements comes at a time when hundreds of apartments, more businesses and a new Trader Joe’s are all popping up within city limits.
—Taylor O'Connor, Kansas City Star, 16 Mar. 2026
Kathryn Palmer, USA Today, 29 Apr. 2026
That was the only offense Noone needed.
—Steve Millar, Chicago Tribune, 29 Apr. 2026
State-of-the-art drones, and the technology needed to intercept them, have become as important to national weapons arsenals as missiles, Patriot systems, fighter jets, and warships.
—Sudarsan Raghavan, New Yorker, 28 Apr. 2026
Hay added that the issue is not something that passengers needed to worry about from a safety standpoint but rather an operational headache for pilots, airlines and air traffic control.
—Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 28 Apr. 2026
Everything is precisely where it’s needed, from hooks by the showers to chargers by the bed.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Apr. 2026
This, in turn, reduces clumping during brewing, yielding less waste and the strong, consistent flow needed to produce a tasty cup of espresso.
—ArsTechnica, 28 Apr. 2026
Brake gently as needed - Brake normally if the vehicle has anti-lock brakes and pump brakes gently if in an older vehicle.
—Star-Telegram Weather Bot, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Apr. 2026
The Raiders have needed a solution at quarterback for years and Mendoza is the only consensus first-round quarterback in this draft.
—Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 21 Apr. 2026
Adjective
Earlier this month, the city of Aurora accepted a grant from the state Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity on behalf of Mutual Ground to make needed renovations.
—R. Christian Smith, Chicago Tribune, 26 Apr. 2026
Kurtis said Revesco is exploring low-income housing tax credits as a possible way to reduce the needed loan amount.
—Thomas Gounley, Denver Post, 21 Apr. 2026
The university also agreed to make needed repairs to the women’s outdoor track by the end of the current school year, and to replace the women’s lacrosse team’s turf field no later than 2028.
—Alex Riggins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Apr. 2026
The Terner Center said going to multiple agencies for needed funding adds costs because developers have to endure higher legal, staffing and compliance costs to manage additional applications and contracts.
—Andrew Khouri, Los Angeles Times, 15 Apr. 2026
But unless there’s enough to generate all the needed electricity, with some wind or solar left unused, the Ohio utility will power the data center’s additional activity with the next cheapest source, typically natural gas or coal.
—Arik Levinson, Mercury News, 7 Apr. 2026
Campbell, who ordinarily would represent DiZoglio in court to compel the Legislature to comply, has refused to do so on the flimsy excuse that DiZoglio has not provided needed information.
—Peter Lucas, Boston Herald, 23 Mar. 2026
The memo stated the federal government had started site preparation but blamed Pritzker for delaying the land purchase and a needed state permit.
—Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 21 Mar. 2026
The city’s discussion on the needed roadway improvements comes at a time when hundreds of apartments, more businesses and a new Trader Joe’s are all popping up within city limits.
—Taylor O'Connor, Kansas City Star, 16 Mar. 2026
Verb
Zachary Schermele On the heels of a frightening shooting over the weekend, the royal address seemed to bring Washington together in a moment of relative unity at a time when it was needed.
—Kathryn Palmer, USA Today, 29 Apr. 2026
That was the only offense Noone needed.
—Steve Millar, Chicago Tribune, 29 Apr. 2026
State-of-the-art drones, and the technology needed to intercept them, have become as important to national weapons arsenals as missiles, Patriot systems, fighter jets, and warships.
—Sudarsan Raghavan, New Yorker, 28 Apr. 2026
Hay added that the issue is not something that passengers needed to worry about from a safety standpoint but rather an operational headache for pilots, airlines and air traffic control.
—Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 28 Apr. 2026
Everything is precisely where it’s needed, from hooks by the showers to chargers by the bed.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Apr. 2026
This, in turn, reduces clumping during brewing, yielding less waste and the strong, consistent flow needed to produce a tasty cup of espresso.
—ArsTechnica, 28 Apr. 2026
Brake gently as needed - Brake normally if the vehicle has anti-lock brakes and pump brakes gently if in an older vehicle.
—Star-Telegram Weather Bot, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Apr. 2026
The Raiders have needed a solution at quarterback for years and Mendoza is the only consensus first-round quarterback in this draft.
—Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 21 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for needed
Adjective
-
With his girth, incredible wingspan (85 inches) and arm length (35 inches), Collins is the requisite two-gap defensive tackle necessary for San Francisco’s defense.—
Sam Warren,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2026
-
That means an entertainment license wouldn’t be necessary anymore for bars that want to host trivia nights, for bowling alleys and for coffee shops that have an unamplified live performer.—
Elliott Wenzler,
Denver Post,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
In his first varsity season, Jordan has learned how to navigate the intricacies required from the position.—
Patrick Z. McGavin,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Completion of this training is now required to obtain certification and aims to address knowledge gaps among retailers regarding the lawful use of the trademark.—
Angela Velasquez,
Footwear News,
29 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Also, from the music aspect, timeliness is just an essential part of music.—
Ben Crandell,
Sun Sentinel,
28 Apr. 2026
-
In the historical records of Central Florida, there are names that come up again and again — people whose contributions were essential to the changes that shaped the greater Orlando area for generations to come.—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
At Yale University, a committee of professors wanted to know why public trust in higher education had collapsed.—
Steven P. Dinkin,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Apr. 2026
-
Phil is a hippie from Montana who wanted to embrace his Zen side and his love of Native American history.—
Charles Bethea,
New Yorker,
26 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
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
Adjective
-
Glyphosate 'revolutionized farming' Introduced in the 1970s, Roundup quickly became the top-selling herbicide in the United States and integral to farming.—
Maureen Groppe,
USA Today,
25 Apr. 2026
-
But fights are just as integral to the Netflix show created by Lee Sung Jin, and the series’ sound team needed to do even more meticulous work building visceral senses of anger, stress, and dread that slowly swallow up the characters and steer them into making a compounding set of poor decisions.—
Sarah Shachat,
IndieWire,
24 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Needed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/needed. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
