needing

verb

present participle of need
as in requiring
to have as a requirement a national crisis that needs a strong leader to solve it

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 needing That grief may be tied to major losses, such as no longer being able to travel or work, as well as quieter daily changes like needing more sleep or being unable to walk as far as before. — Emily Cegielski, Flow Space, 10 Aug. 2026 Ricky Pearsall is done for the season after swelling in his right knee led to needing surgery to reconstruct his PCL. — Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 10 Aug. 2026 Qualifying for Medigap and needing it are two different things. — Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 10 Aug. 2026 Bond yields have remained pretty high in recent weeks, which acts as their own quasi-rate hike — without the Fed needing to put its foot down and accidentally step on the weaker-than-expected job market. — David Goldman, CNN Money, 8 Aug. 2026 Finding a pillow with enough neck support is hard enough without also needing one that stays cool throughout the night. — Melody Kazel, PEOPLE, 8 Aug. 2026 Boasting an outstanding 57-hour battery life, plus a quick 5-minute charge that adds 3 hours of playtime, they are built to power through days of classes without needing an outlet. — Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 5 Aug. 2026 Educators and teachers have griped for years about teens spending too much time on their phones and needing to curb cellphone use in classes during school days. — Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 3 Aug. 2026 One 2022 study found that more than half of the patients who traveled abroad for discount cosmetic surgery ended up needing further treatment at home, such as wound care, removal of surgical objects and surgery revisions. — Roni Jacobson, New York Daily News, 3 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for needing
  1. requiring
  2. wanting
  3. taking
Verb
  • The Franklins lovingly brought structure and discipline, requiring kids to go to church and summer camps, volunteer, and participate in sports.
    — Sharon Chin, CBS News, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Australia and even Mexico have pension systems requiring people to set aside a meaningful percentage of their earnings into an account that compounds for retirement.
    — Fortune Editors, Fortune, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of requiring
Verb
  • For those wanting to dine in private, the full menu is available for room service.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Aug. 2026
  • On July 8, more than 38 years after her mother’s killing in Jacksonville, Florida, the Clay County Sheriff’s Office received a call from a man wanting to come forward with information on a cold case.
    — Avni Trivedi, CNN Money, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of wanting
Verb
  • Towns and cities are enacting bans on construction seemingly by the day, including in nearby areas in Washington, out of fears of higher electricity bills, pollution and AI taking their jobs.
    — Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN Money, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Skubal also issued two walks and hit a batter with a pitch in just his second career appearance at Dodger Stadium, taking the mound nine days after the defending champions acquired him from Detroit in the biggest trade of the deadline.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of taking

Browse Nearby Words

neediness
needing
needle
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Needing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/needing. Accessed 13 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on needing

Nglish: Translation of needing for Spanish Speakers

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