needful

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.

The power to change the Kennedy Center marquee resides with Congress, which has authority to “make all needful Rules and Regulations respecting the Territory or other Property belonging to the United States.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 22, 2025

His grief-stricken family has sought explanations as to how doctors could have found their loved one competent to “choose” death much less needful of it.

From Washington Post • Aug. 17, 2022

Many will be young men and women who will risk prison, or worse, to deliver the facts to a needful public — even if some of the public don't want to hear it.

From Salon • Apr. 14, 2022

He is doing the needful to train the boy for recruitment into his Regiment.

From BBC • Mar. 21, 2022

To learn which questions are unanswerable, and not to answer them: this skill is most needful in times of stress and darkness.

From "The Left Hand of Darkness" by Ursula K. Le Guin