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
Liza N. Burby2
: marked by want of affection, attention, or emotional support
emotionally needy
The girl was needy for her mother's affection.
neediness
noun
Synonyms
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
In The Social Network’s famous opening scene, Jesse Eisenberg’s Zuckerberg is dumped by a Boston University student, played by Rooney Mara, who can’t stand his needy obsession with Harvard’s final clubs.
—Simon Van Zuylen-Wood, Vulture, 1 Nov. 2024
That changed earlier this year, when USA TODAY began asking for records showing the department’s efforts to reach needy communities.
—Austin Fast, USA TODAY, 25 Oct. 2024
There’s also a bartender, Peterman’s Gabby, who is far more self-sufficient than Barbra Jean, but just as needy as her former, far more kooky alter-ego.
—Ryan Schwartz, TVLine, 18 Oct. 2024
Meanwhile, California gets another shot at getting food money to needy kids.
—Denise Amos, The Mercury News, 17 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for needy 
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.
Simon Van Zuylen-Wood, Vulture, 1 Nov. 2024
That changed earlier this year, when USA TODAY began asking for records showing the department’s efforts to reach needy communities.
—Austin Fast, USA TODAY, 25 Oct. 2024
There’s also a bartender, Peterman’s Gabby, who is far more self-sufficient than Barbra Jean, but just as needy as her former, far more kooky alter-ego.
—Ryan Schwartz, TVLine, 18 Oct. 2024
Meanwhile, California gets another shot at getting food money to needy kids.
—Denise Amos, The Mercury News, 17 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for needy
Dictionary Entries Near needy
Cite this Entry
“Needy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/needy. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
needy
adjective
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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share