needy
Americanadjective
-
needier,
comparative
-
neediest
superlative
-
in a condition of need or want; extremely poor and not having the basic necessities.
If your car is serviceable, it will be repaired and donated to a needy family.
-
having or exhibiting an excessive emotional need, as for attention, intimacy, or reassurance.
As he became more competent and less needy, his interpersonal relationships improved.
-
having many needs to be met.
Cats aren’t as needy as dogs.
noun
adjective
Usage
What does needy mean? Needy is an adjective meaning poor. It can also be used as a noun referring collectively to people who are poor or otherwise in need, as in Your donation will help the needy. Another, more informal use of needy is as a negative adjective meaning demanding or having a lot needs to be met. It’s especially used to describe someone who requires a lot of attention in a relationship. A similar term is high-maintenance. Example: The food bank is intended for needy people who have no other way to get food.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Adjectives
Etymology
Origin of needy
First recorded in 1125–75; Middle English nedi; see origin at need, -y 1
Explanation
People who are needy don't have enough of life's necessities, like money, food, water, education, or shelter. Many charities collect money that helps needy people. Truly needy people go without food or warmth, for example, and often need help from others. As a group, these people are sometimes referred to as "the needy." A more lighthearted way to use the adjective is to mean "demanding or difficult." This type of needy person requires frequent reassurance or emotional support: "She's a good friend, but she can be so needy sometimes."
Vocabulary lists containing needy
Broke-abulary: Synonyms for "Poor"
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Locke said many Texans have drawn on their faith “to attack inequalities, provide for the needy and, yes, advocate for environmental protections.”
From Salon ● Aug. 3, 2026
The festival is usually marked with the slaughter of a sheep, with some of the meat given to the needy.
From Barron's ● May 27, 2026
“The evidence also shows that children, especially needy or underprivileged children, are not the recipients of the proceeds of the donations,” the ruling states.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 15, 2026
Varley said the child was "refusing" to go to sleep, is "very needy" and texted another friend: "He's just annoying. Lol."
From BBC ● Apr. 28, 2026
—The Unity Cultural Association wishes to thank all students who brought in canned goods for needy families.
From "Tears of a Tiger" by Sharon M. Draper
Mindy’s escape prevents her from realizing how deeply her sister, less gifted and needier, has fallen into the grasp of Tom Bailey.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 3, 2023
Gradually she found a Mrs. Lovett who was younger than the usual iteration and needier.
From New York Times ● May 10, 2023
But actually Nate is a lot needier sadly than that and is a troubled soul.
From Salon ● Mar. 29, 2023
The influx of new investors, coupled with rising trades and needier clients, “clearly put a strain on the system,” said Michael Foy, head of wealth intelligence at J.D.
From Seattle Times ● Aug. 23, 2021
I never saw a needier creature in my life.’
From "Jazz" by Toni Morrison
Yet Mr. Kelly is willing to deprive the neediest children of access to the greatest blessing America could offer: a high-quality education.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 18, 2026
“Who will teach the children in the neediest schools? The communities will suffer. It’s cyclical, and it’s scary.”
From Salon ● Mar. 17, 2026
I judge a country by how it treats its neediest.
From BBC ● Apr. 28, 2025
Council members said they have heard little from the county on whether services to the region’s neediest will be disrupted or even reduced.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 31, 2025
Fidelito was the neediest kid in the room, and so of course everyone pushed him around.
From "The House of the Scorpion" by Nancy Farmer
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
