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
Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of needful
Corey Van Landingham, The New Yorker, 19 June 2023
What sort of response was needful?
—Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 14 Jan. 2013
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
Sometimes environments and selection pressures change radically, and large effect mutations may become needful.
—Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 18 May 2010
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
Many proponents of critical race theory — whose animating idea is that race is the one thing needful, the single lens through which all other phenomena should be viewed — are indeed trying to compel compliance.
—Greg Weiner, National Review, 10 Sep. 2020
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
Who promises tomorrows to a whole needful planet, restrikes that match?
—Corey Van Landingham, The New Yorker, 19 June 2023
What sort of response was needful?
—Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 14 Jan. 2013
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
Sometimes environments and selection pressures change radically, and large effect mutations may become needful.
—Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 18 May 2010
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
Many proponents of critical race theory — whose animating idea is that race is the one thing needful, the single lens through which all other phenomena should be viewed — are indeed trying to compel compliance.
—Greg Weiner, National Review, 10 Sep. 2020
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
-
That relentless focus is necessary, especially for a team that has struggled defensively — an area long associated with Thibodeau’s coaching identity.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
19 Jan. 2025
-
Timing one’s necessary exit from power is, of course, one of life’s most vexing conundrums and Biden hardly is alone in blowing the moment.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
19 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
Understand that poor sleep hygiene can negatively impact the quantity and quality of sleep.—
Dominique Fluker,
Essence,
24 Jan. 2025
-
The Texans’ offensive line was mostly poor this season, unable to consistently protect Stroud.—
The Athletic NFL Staff,
The Athletic,
24 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
Trump cited a freeze on new money for all U.S. foreign aid, his notice of a U.S. withdrawal from the Paris climate agreement and his order ceasing diversity, equity and inclusion programs across the federal government, among other things.—
Will Weissert and Thomas Beaumont,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Jan. 2025
-
Gale says the group has used the money to hire a biologist and engineer who are studying their location data, in particular.—
Stephanie O'Neill,
NPR,
26 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
Money trees often develop root rot in poorly draining pots, so drainage holes are a must.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
20 Jan. 2025
-
Indiana still has a path for hosting, but beating one of the Big Ten’s top four teams will be a must, and the Hoosiers have a huge opportunity when USC comes to Assembly Hall.—
Mark Schindler,
The Athletic,
17 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
Vogue Daily newsletter Get essential fashion, style, and tips, in your inbox.—
Emma Specter,
Vogue,
16 Jan. 2025
-
For both schizophrenia and other forms of psychosis, early treatment is essential.—
Brittany Dube,
Health,
16 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
Guatemala, a small, impoverished nation scarred by a brutal civil war, has a substantial undocumented population in the United States.—
Daniele Volpe,
New York Times,
21 Jan. 2025
-
The workshop's initial mission was to provide a trade for widows and other impoverished Palestinian women.—
Lauren Frayer,
NPR,
18 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
After setting aside that initial pile of cash, however, 75% apparently goes to Trump’s company, and 25% gets split between other insiders, including the family of Steve Witkoff, Trump’s incoming special envoy to the Middle East.—
Dan Alexander,
Forbes,
22 Jan. 2025
-
Listen to this article A man was arrested in connection with a robbery at a gas station in West Haven on Tuesday after he was allegedly found walking nearby with a stash of loose cash.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
22 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
Select programming languages, frameworks and tools that align with project requirements, scalability and long-term goals.—
Paul Kovalenko,
Forbes,
21 Jan. 2025
-
To comply with the new requirements, producers either need to start cooking their products or come up with another way to cut the risk in their food safety plans.—
Alexander Tin,
CBS News,
21 Jan. 2025
Articles Related to needful
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Cite this Entry
“Needful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/needful. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.
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