need 1 of 2

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as in to must
to be under necessity or obligation to you need not stand when she enters the room

Synonyms & Similar Words

need

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noun

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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 need
Verb
Your images also need protection from insects and rodents. Kathy Barnes, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 July 2025 In the Nationals’ immediate future, the team will need to name permanent fixtures at general manager and manager. Brittany Ghiroli, New York Times, 10 July 2025
Noun
Nature is restorative, helping to counteract modern life's numerous demands and the need to stay hyper-focused on specific tasks, the expert added. Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 9 July 2025 During what might have been the committee’s final meeting last week, Samantha Karn, corporation counsel for the city, emphasized the need for a consistent process in determining which events are supported by the city and how much support is lent. Jake Allen, IndyStar, 9 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for need
Recent Examples of Synonyms for need
Verb
  • Just unfold the walls and connect them together—no sawing, drilling, or hard hat required.
    Rylee Johnston, Travel + Leisure, 5 July 2025
  • While tomato plants require full sun for the best performance, the fruits themselves do not require sun exposure to ripen.
    Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 5 July 2025
Noun
  • As a result, the carbon dioxide isn't replenished and, along with other mechanisms like the solar winds and the lack of magnetic field, the result was a feedback process that bled off more and more of the atmosphere as more and more of the carbon dioxide was sealed in the minerals.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 12 July 2025
  • President Donald Trump toured the flood site Friday, while officials faced mounting criticism over the lack of emergency warnings about quickly rising waters that killed at least 120 people, including over two dozen at an all-girls summer camp.
    Grace Miserocchi, Chicago Tribune, 12 July 2025
Noun
  • Finally, and perhaps most obviously, in today’s office world, drinks and snacks are a must.
    Brit Morse, Fortune, 7 July 2025
  • Pasta salad is always a must at the potluck, and this one has been around for a very long time.
    Nellah Bailey McGough, Southern Living, 7 July 2025
Noun
  • Redstone has borrowed heavily to meet debt obligations, including a $186-million term loan from Larry Ellison last year.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 4 July 2025
  • What's, what are, what is a citizen's obligation now?
    CBS News, CBS News, 4 July 2025
Noun
  • Despite abundant natural wealth, six out of 10 Liberians live in poverty, according to the World Bank, and Liberia is among the world's 10 poorest nations.
    arkansasonline.com, arkansasonline.com, 13 July 2025
  • In some cases, like Texas Tech, it’s been the rich lifting their favorite school out of poverty.
    Jason Kirk, New York Times, 11 July 2025
Verb
  • From overcrowded trails to traffic congestion, the Pacific islands have been actively seeking visitors who want to create a deeper connection with Hawaii.
    Pamela Avila, USA Today, 5 July 2025
  • Some Democrats on the far left of the political spectrum want the governor to go away.
    Kevin Rennie, Hartford Courant, 5 July 2025
Noun
  • The rates are based on an assumption that workers are paid $15.75 an hour, although there's no requirement for employers to pay that rate.
    Cleo Krejci, jsonline.com, 8 July 2025
  • Among the new regulations, the most consequential are: 1) the requirement that climbers must summit at least one 7,000-meter (22,965-foot) peak in Nepal before applying for a permit for Mount Everest, and 2) the ban on solo expeditions on Mount Everest and all other 8,000-meter (26,247-foot) peaks.
    Emese Maczko, Forbes.com, 8 July 2025
Noun
  • For the generation currently between 13 and 28 years old, better known as Gen-Z, Trump’s policy bill represents a shift in retirement policy that places more responsibility on the individual.
    Alejandra Rojas, Forbes.com, 5 July 2025
  • But the water that none of us can live without is everyday kindness and responsibility.
    Pico Iyer, Time, 5 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Need.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/need. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.

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