NEEDINESS Synonyms: 37 Similar and Opposite Words

neediness

noun

Definition of neediness

as in poverty

the state of lacking sufficient money or material possessions a family's general level of neediness is the determining factor in the allocation of charitable donations

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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 neediness Kaitlin Olson made Dee’s own session a masterpiece of wide-eyed neediness, obsessively lying about her past and then demanding the shrink praise her for her acting prowess. — Dennis Perkins, Entertainment Weekly, 28 July 2026 Langley’s closest sonic predecessor, Kacey Musgraves, has long searched for transcendence—though in more woo-woo terms than Langley does, and with (on Musgraves’s lusty new album) the sort of neediness that often gets written off as cringe. — Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 23 July 2026 Managers frequently mistake flexibility for a weak work ethic, mental health discussions for fragility, transparency for disrespect, and feedback requests for neediness. — Mark Murphy, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026 To play Duncan Park, the head of a data-mining company who’s desperate to join the upper tier of the tech industry hierarchy in the AMC drama The Audacity, Billy Magnussen has to find a deep well of neediness and striving. — Rick Porter, HollywoodReporter, 2 June 2026 Is Suzanna’s gloomy neediness all that different from Becky’s gold-digging manipulations? — Greg Evans, Deadline, 6 Apr. 2026 Fontana is wearing a little thin on me with the constant neediness for approval. — Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 7 Mar. 2026 She was sandwiched between their needinesses. — Literary Hub, 5 Jan. 2026 On the second take, Russell’s bossy tone rubbed up nicely against the neediness of the moment. — Emily Nussbaum, New Yorker, 6 Oct. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for neediness

Noun

The state persistently ranks near the bottom nationally on poverty, crime and public education, and disenchanted voters are pleading for change.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 23 Oct. 2026
In India millions of men in poverty were sterilized during the Emergency (1975–77), when the government declared a state of emergency and curtailed civil liberties.

— Frannie Comstock, Encyclopedia Britannica, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of poverty

Noun

Adding to the misery, Jason Sanders — a longtime Dolphins kicker in his first season with the Jets — hit the right upright on a 40-yard try.

— ABC News, ABC News, 25 Oct. 2026
With Dunham as creator, showrunner and star, the original series ran from 2012 to 2017 and followed a group of friends through the misery and dysfunction of their 20s in New York City.

— Payton Turkeltaub, Variety, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of misery

Browse Nearby Words

needfuls

neediness

needing

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“Neediness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/neediness. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of neediness

noun

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