needy

[nee-dee]

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.

noun

(used with a plural verb)

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

needy

/ ˈniːdɪ /

adjective

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

   2. ( as collective noun; preceded by the )

      the needy

Other Word Forms

• needily adverb
• unneedy adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of needy¹

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

Example Sentences

So the choice was to keep their thank you speeches short or supposedly take money away from needy children.

From Salon

FDR envisioned further programs to bring relief to the needy and healthcare for all Americans.

From Los Angeles Times

"He's somebody who worked really hard all his life and was helping the needy and the poor. And now he is in this situation where he's struggling to find clean water."

From BBC

Sure enough, even back in the 40s, someone had a stash, and the needy paid through the nose.

From Salon

A triaging system meant to house the most needy forced housing providers to deal with more burdensome tenants.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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

When To Use

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.