necessity

[nuh-ses-i-tee] / nəˈsɛs ɪ ti /

NOUN

need, essentiality

Synonyms

STRONGEST

essential fundamental obligation precondition prerequisite requirement urgency

STRONG

call cause claim compulsion demand desideratum duress essence exaction exigency godsend imperative indispensability inevitability inexorableness must must-have necessary pinch privation requisite stress vitals want

WEAK

life or death needfulness no alternative no choice sine qua non undeniability vital part

Antonyms

STRONGEST

auxiliary extra trivia

WEAK

desire

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.

"Net zero is not just an environmental necessity, it is an opportunity to build a stronger, more secure and more prosperous Welsh economy," the party added.

From BBC • Apr. 30, 2026

Demand for Sandisk shares remains elevated at the current price, meaning that there’s no immediate necessity to lower the price to attract more buyers, Yardeni added.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 29, 2026

In the early years of television, voice-over introductions to shows and their casts were a necessity of the medium.

From Salon • Apr. 25, 2026

Exports are an even greater necessity for Chinese firms than their European rivals because they face significant overcapacity.

From Barron's • Apr. 22, 2026

I am a reproach to her; and a necessity.

From "The Handmaid's Tale" by Margaret Atwood

Vocabulary lists containing necessity

Declaration of the Rights of Woman (1791)

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The Ingenious Lexicon of Invention

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100 SAT Words Beginning with "N"

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