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
Jayson Greene, Pitchfork, 8 May 2026
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
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
Her voice is slurred, needful, abject.
—Jayson Greene, Pitchfork, 8 May 2026
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
-
Last spring, the mayor vetoed the budget adopted by the council, and an override ended up being necessary.—
David Garrick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
29 May 2026
-
The cosmonauts are effectively the human equivalent of first dog Laika, sacrificing themselves — if necessary — for the good of the wider populous.—
Richard Edwards,
Space.com,
29 May 2026
Adjective
-
At this point the Red Sox are in serious danger, and the only reason the club is even within striking distance of a playoff spot is because the rest of the American League has been so poor.—
Mac Cerullo,
Boston Herald,
27 May 2026
-
Putumayo is one of Colombia’s poorest and most troubled regions.—
Jacob Whitehead,
New York Times,
27 May 2026
Noun
-
Earlier, Mars square Pluto may stir tension around creativity, money, attention, or control.—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
26 May 2026
-
Faye, disappointed to see that the safe has no money, blames Rue for the deception and screams to wake her boyfriend.—
Dani Di Placido,
Forbes.com,
25 May 2026
Noun
-
The ultra-thick slice of banana bread with creamy-tangy passionfruit butter is a must.—
Nathanael Gassett,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
26 May 2026
-
Keeping Thomas is a must in that discussion.—
Dom Luszczyszyn,
New York Times,
26 May 2026
Adjective
-
By pairing two of nature’s most beloved, essential ingredients, each transforms the other to create an experience that has to be tasted to be believed.—
Condé Nast Traveler,
Condé Nast Traveler,
26 May 2026
-
Defer essential or discretionary expenses that are reasonably affordable.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
26 May 2026
Adjective
-
CalFresh is the state version of the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which sends an average $189 per month to low-income and impoverished Californians for food.—
Grant Stringer,
Mercury News,
26 May 2026
-
Rubio said Cuba’s current crisis should be blamed on the military officials behind GAESA, which has ransacked the country’s revenue for their benefit, leaving most Cubans impoverished.—
Nora Gámez Torres,
Miami Herald,
20 May 2026
Noun
-
Wells Fargo has an excellent no-annual-fee travel card — the Wells Fargo Autograph® Card — that gets you access to all of Wells Fargo's transfer partners, easy 1-cent-per-point cash redemptions and excellent bonus spending categories.—
Jason Stauffer,
CNBC,
25 May 2026
-
All tips remain anonymous and may qualify for a cash reward.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
17 May 2026
Noun
-
This veto aligns with Polis’ veto of a similar bill last year that featured a 48-hour warrant compliance requirement and stricter self-policing by the platforms.—
Nick Coltrain,
Denver Post,
29 May 2026
-
They were freed with the requirement that the mother and Habiba would wear ankle monitors and the family would appear for frequent check-ins.—
Alan Gionet,
CBS News,
28 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Needful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/needful. Accessed 30 May. 2026.
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