needy

adjective

ˈnē-dē 

needier; neediest

1

: being in want : poverty-stricken

needy families

… where needy children from the community could come to get free, nutritious meals.

—Liza N. Burby

2

: marked by want of affection, attention, or emotional support

emotionally needy

The girl was needy for her mother's affection.

neediness noun

Synonyms

• beggared
• beggarly
• broke
• destitute
• dirt-poor
• down-and-out
• famished
• hard up
• impecunious
• impoverished
• indigent
• necessitous
• needful
• pauperized
• penniless
• penurious
• poor
• poverty-stricken
• skint [chiefly British]
• threadbare

Examples of needy in a Sentence

As a child, she was extremely needy and had no self-confidence.

those generous souls who regularly give money and donate clothes to help the needy

Recent Examples on the Web

In The Social Network’s famous opening scene, Jesse Eisenberg’s Zuckerberg is dumped by a Boston University student, played by Rooney Mara, who can’t stand his needy obsession with Harvard’s final clubs. —Simon Van Zuylen-Wood, Vulture, 1 Nov. 2024

That changed earlier this year, when USA TODAY began asking for records showing the department’s efforts to reach needy communities. —Austin Fast, USA TODAY, 25 Oct. 2024

There’s also a bartender, Peterman’s Gabby, who is far more self-sufficient than Barbra Jean, but just as needy as her former, far more kooky alter-ego. —Ryan Schwartz, TVLine, 18 Oct. 2024

Meanwhile, California gets another shot at getting food money to needy kids. —Denise Amos, The Mercury News, 17 July 2024

Word History

First Known Use

12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing needy

• the needy

Kids Definition

needy

adjective

ˈnēd-ē 

needier; neediest

1

: being in want : very poor

needy families

2

: marked by want of affection, attention, or emotional support

a tendency to be emotionally needy

neediness noun