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Synonyms

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.

noun

(used with a plural verb)

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

needy British  
/ ˈniːdɪ /

adjective

    1. in need of practical or emotional support; distressed

    2. ( as collective noun; preceded by the )

      the needy
"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

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

She comes across as a needy figure, chasing money and support - apparently describing herself to Epstein as "very traumatised and alone".

From BBC • Mar. 20, 2026

Barbie’s needy male counterpart, it turns out, is not “just Ken.”

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 28, 2026

Getting into the holiday spirit: This year, local vintage store owners are collaborating on a special open house that aims to collect food and donations for needy families.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 6, 2025

She gave me her smile of infinite kindness and understanding, the smile I had seen her aim at so many other needy souls, and in that moment I hated her.

From "Stargirl" by Jerry Spinelli

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.