necessary 1 of 2

adjective

ˈne-sə-ˌser-ē How to pronounce necessary (audio)
Definition of necessarynext
1
as in required
forcing one's compliance or participation by or as if by law an emissions test is necessary before you can renew the registration for your car

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in inevitable
impossible to avoid or evade taxes will always be a necessary evil

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3
as in essential
impossible to do without food and water are necessary for survival

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

necessary

2 of 2

noun

as in must
something necessary, indispensable, or unavoidable a modest income that provided the family with only the necessaries of life

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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 necessary
Adjective
My approach is to explain the failure scenario, identify necessary controls and work with colleagues on a path forward, translating technical complexity into business owner accountability, without creating security drag for the business. — Manny Khan, Forbes.com, 20 Oct. 2026 Prior to the release of the Kobe Bryant’s Nike Kobe 4 in 2008, conventional wisdom held that high-tops were necessary in basketball in order to adequately support the ankles. — Ian Servantes, Footwear News, 19 Oct. 2026
Noun
At George Washington’s Mount Vernon plantation in Virginia there were several such necessaries on the grounds. — New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 12 Apr. 2025 Among other necessaries will be Israeli control of the Philadelphi corridor separating Gaza from Egypt, to ensure that Hamas can’t resupply itself with weapons. — Bret Stephens, Mercury News, 4 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for necessary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for necessary
  1. required
  2. inevitable
  3. essential
  4. must
  5. mandatory
  6. possible
  7. needed
  8. requirement
Adjective
  • The agency said any contractor who has not completed required screening will not be authorized to perform mail-handling duties until those requirements are met.
    — Karen Morfitt, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2026
  • If the council follows staff’s recommendation during its Wednesday meeting, the project would retain its current approvals, subject to the required conditions.
    — Nicole Buss, Sacbee.com, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of required
Adjective
  • However, Musk has cautioned investors against treating a merger as inevitable.
    — Morgan Chittum, Fortune, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Still, a controversy of some kind might have been inevitable.
    — Jack Denton, Vulture, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of inevitable
Adjective
  • For the technology leader responsible for keeping essential services running, these details provide a basis for assessing what protections exist and what happens in an extreme scenario.
    — Margot Edelman, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Beginning in October 2023, the convention center also reportedly implemented additional new bird-safe measures, including closing drapes and blinds overnight and turning off non-essential exterior lights.
    — Adriana Pérez, Chicago Tribune, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of essential
Noun
  • Tantísimo, a farm-to-table Latin American restaurant, shares a patio with the boarding house and is a must for dinner or Sunday brunch.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Oct. 2026
  • As always, installing updates in a timely manner is also a must.
    — Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of must
Adjective
  • In a country where enlistment is mandatory for most Jewish men and women, these exemptions have always angered the broader public.
    — Josef Federman, Los Angeles Times, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Other campaign issues include mandatory military service, which is particularly sensitive for religious Jewish parties and Haredi communities.
    — Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of mandatory
Adjective
  • There was palpable excitement, especially after Barringer noted that national Democrats had put the seat on a list of ones to watch for a possible upset.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026
  • The embassy said in a statement Monday that partial curfews had been introduced in several French cities, with additional restrictions possible.
    — Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of possible
Adjective
  • Diesel is at an all-time high because of the war; every item in your grocery store was shipped there by truck and needed diesel.
    — Serena Maria Daniels, Bon Appetit Magazine, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Communication breakdowns may leave patients unaware of available services, while a lack of referrals can keep them from receiving needed care.
    — Marci Lee Nilsen, The Conversation, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of needed
Noun
  • The Spanish Navy and Navantia are working from operational requirements, and the final design must still go through procurement.
    — Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 24 Oct. 2026
  • American technology therefore qualified for the Commission’s own sovereign cloud requirements through a European operating structure.
    — Margot Edelman, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of requirement

Browse Nearby Words

necessarily
necessary
necessitate
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Cite this Entry

“Necessary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/necessary. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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