1
as in necessary
impossible to do without
purchase needful provisions
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in poor
lacking money or material possessions
let's first help the needful families in our own community
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in must
something necessary, indispensable, or unavoidable
packed a warm jacket and other needfuls for an autumn weekend in the country
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of needful
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
What sort of response was needful?
—Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 14 Jan. 2013
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
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
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
What sort of response was needful?
—Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 14 Jan. 2013
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
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
Adjective
-
Injuries to key players on the Amazin’s contributed to some poor numbers as well.—
Fiifi Frimpong,
New York Daily News,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Although poor students are disproportionately likely to receive special education in New York City, well-off disabled kids are the ones most acutely driving up the budget.—
Marc Novicoff,
The Atlantic,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Trump has vowed to spend his own money to pay for the ballroom, but the project has drawn criticism for its massive size.—
Kathryn Palmer,
USA Today,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Opponents of Johnson’s added into the budget an expectation that the city would earn $6 million from the technology, though Johnson’s administration argued the city could not responsibly count on the money.—
Jake Sheridan,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Cutting fresh corn from the cob is a must for these cheery summer pizzas.—
Hannah Agran,
Midwest Living,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Improving Penn for people is a must, but improving it for trains must happen as well.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
27 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
Adjective
-
Democrats have attacked these anti-fraud policies as an effort to undermine safety net programs for the impoverished.—
Editorial,
Boston Herald,
30 Apr. 2026
-
The redevelopment could begin unfolding as the Greater Hartford Gives Foundation, the former Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, begins construction on a new $35 million headquarters in Clay Arsenal, two major projects for the long-impoverished neighborhood.—
Kenneth R. Gosselin,
Hartford Courant,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Sun Pharma plans to fund the acquisition through a mix of internal cash and financing from banks.—
Baiju Kalesh,
Bloomberg,
27 Apr. 2026
-
The irregular flow of cash will distort their financial reports and could deepen mistrust that the county has adequate guardrails to properly account for where taxpayers’ money is ending up.—
A.D. Quig,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The spokesperson noted that the pilot had completed all mandatory medical examinations in compliance with regulatory requirements and held a Class I medical certification.—
Colson Thayer,
PEOPLE,
30 Apr. 2026
-
The information provided is crucial in identifying whether the state meets federal requirements for various forms of disaster assistance.—
Mateo Rosiles,
USA Today,
30 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Needful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/needful. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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