necessary 1 of 2

adjective

ˈne-sə-ˌser-ē How to pronounce necessary (audio)
Definition of necessarynext
1
as in required
forcing one's compliance or participation by or as if by law an emissions test is necessary before you can renew the registration for your car

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in inevitable
impossible to avoid or evade taxes will always be a necessary evil

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3
as in essential
impossible to do without food and water are necessary for survival

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

necessary

2 of 2

noun

as in must
something necessary, indispensable, or unavoidable a modest income that provided the family with only the necessaries of life

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of necessary
Adjective
Set against the remote, insular world of its titular island, production designer Steve Arnold and set decorator Jennifer Engel created a lived-in, slightly stuck in time and, when necessary, deeply unsettling environment. — Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 14 Aug. 2026 Dana Johnson with the Cobb Chamber of Commerce also spoke in favor of the proposal, characterizing data centers as a form of infrastructure increasingly necessary for businesses, governments, schools and consumers. — Zachary Bynum, CBS News, 13 Aug. 2026
Noun
At George Washington’s Mount Vernon plantation in Virginia there were several such necessaries on the grounds. — New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 12 Apr. 2025 Among other necessaries will be Israeli control of the Philadelphi corridor separating Gaza from Egypt, to ensure that Hamas can’t resupply itself with weapons. — Bret Stephens, Mercury News, 4 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for necessary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for necessary
  1. required
  2. inevitable
  3. essential
  4. must
  5. mandatory
  6. possible
  7. needed
  8. requirement
Adjective
  • What didn’t pan out nearly so well was all the required documentation.
    — Michael Ashley, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026
  • The coalition's suit claims that Watson has not completed the required historical significance report, which could allow a two-year moratorium on potentially tearing down the building to expire in March 2027.
    — Matthew Ablon, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of required
Adjective
  • When Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022, Ukraine intentionally sank its last major ship rather than accept an inevitable takeover by Russia's large Black Sea fleet.
    — Greg Myre, NPR, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Any peace process will face inevitable setbacks and sabotage attempts, and so the parties must be committed to talks to get them over the line.
    — Matt Waldman, Foreign Affairs, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of inevitable
Adjective
  • One of those arrangements just survived Supreme Court review as essential to the integrity of the number.
    — Shivaram Rajgopal, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Rafael Pelli, Pelli’s son and a partner at Pelli Clarke & Partners, told The Art Newspaper that the natural environment surrounding the center was an essential element in its design.
    — News Desk, Artforum, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of essential
Noun
  • Of course, installing last week’s security update is also a must.
    — Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 14 Aug. 2026
  • In fact, reading the instructions on any product is a must, McCarthy said, to use it safely and maximize its effectiveness.
    — Sandee LaMotte, CNN Money, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of must
Adjective
  • From a historic red card to mandatory hydration breaks, Barton offers a window into changes from a World Cup referees’ perspective.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Program would be mandatory At least 111 substances of unknown safety have been added to foods, drinks and supplements sold in the United States without alerting the FDA, according to a study released this March.
    — Sarah Owermohle, CNN Money, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of mandatory
Adjective
  • Mangione's lawyers and federal prosecutors in Manhattan also discussed a possible guilty plea in his federal case in June, sources previously told ABC News.
    — Peter Charalambous, ABC News, 11 Aug. 2026
  • With an address right in the heart of Paris, this place is ideal for first-timers who want to see as much as possible, or art lovers who are in town specifically to see the Louvre.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of possible
Adjective
  • The Kalshi conundrum Unlike some of the other companies that oversee affiliated trading arms, Kalshi has suggested in public statements that its corporate sibling exists solely to add needed liquidity in thin markets.
    — Dan Bernstein, Sportico.com, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Jackie helps Cole with the UT stuff and Cole helps Jackie just get out of her shell and live life a little bit, which is so needed.
    — Lexy Perez, HollywoodReporter, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of needed
Noun
  • This latter requirement is contingent on very strong or extreme geomagnetic activity.
    — Daisy Dobrijevic, Space.com, 10 Aug. 2026
  • State media published the list of requirements from Zolghadr, the secretary of the Supreme National Security Council.
    — Ibrahim Dahman, CNN Money, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of requirement

Browse Nearby Words

necessarily
necessary
necessitate
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Cite this Entry

“Necessary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/necessary. Accessed 17 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of necessary for Spanish Speakers

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