needy

American  

[nee-dee] / ˈni di /

adjective

needier, neediest

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. having many needs to be met.

   Cats aren’t as needy as dogs.

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noun

(used with a plural verb)

1. Sometimes Disparaging and Offensive. Usually the needy extremely poor people collectively.

needy British  

/ ˈniːdɪ /

adjective

1. 1. in need of practical or emotional support; distressed

   2. ( as collective noun; preceded by the )

      the needy

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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

• needily adverb
• unneedy adjective

Etymology

Origin of needy

First recorded in 1125–75; Middle English nedi; need, -y ¹

Example Sentences

Florida does have a medically needy or “share of cost” program, which allows individuals with income slightly above the Medicaid threshold to qualify by treating the excess income as a deductible.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 26, 2026

But, cash-strapped and needy, he could be turned into a government agent.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 18, 2026

In recent years, more than a dozen U.S. cities have run universal basic income programs, often smaller or pilot programs that have offered guaranteed basic incomes to select groups of needy residents.

From Salon • Jan. 19, 2026

E-wallets are being used to send financial aid directly to needy families, by humanitarian agencies including Unicef and the World Food Programme.

From BBC • Nov. 29, 2025

Mama and Tante Anna redoubled their cooking and sewing for the needy in the neighborhood, as though realizing how brief was anyone’s lifetime of service.

From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom

Related Words

• destitute
• disadvantaged
• indigent
• penniless
• poor
• poverty-stricken
• underprivileged