needy

adjective

ˈnē-dē 

needier; neediest

1

: being in want : poverty-stricken

needy families

… where needy children from the community could come to get free, nutritious meals.

—Liza N. Burby

2

: marked by want of affection, attention, or emotional support

emotionally needy

The girl was needy for her mother's affection.

neediness noun

Synonyms

• beggared
• beggarly
• broke
• destitute
• dirt-poor
• down-and-out
• famished
• hard up
• impecunious
• impoverished
• indigent
• necessitous
• needful
• pauperized
• penniless
• penurious
• poor
• poverty-stricken
• skint [chiefly British]
• threadbare

Examples of needy in a Sentence

As a child, she was extremely needy and had no self-confidence.

those generous souls who regularly give money and donate clothes to help the needy

Recent Examples on the Web

As more poor children and needy families sign up, block grants will force states to increase their own spending on Medicaid or restrict who gets it. —Robert B. Reich, Hartford Courant, 17 Dec. 2024

Taneytown Police Department collected food items for holiday meals for 30 needy families as well as food and hygiene items for Trinity Lutheran Church Food Pantry Sunday at Kennie’s Market. —Jeffrey F. Bill, Baltimore Sun, 9 Dec. 2024

Last month, Thomas partnered with the Interfaith Food Pantry Network to host a Thanksgiving event supporting needy families. —Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 6 Dec. 2024

The potential causes of a needy bladder are pretty wide-ranging. —Erica Sloan, SELF, 9 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing needy

• the needy

Kids Definition

needy

adjective

ˈnēd-ē 

needier; neediest

1

: being in want : very poor

needy families

2

: marked by want of affection, attention, or emotional support

a tendency to be emotionally needy

neediness noun