needy

Needy is an adjective meaning poor. It can also be used as a noun referring collectively to people who are poor or otherwise in need, as in Your donation will help the needy. 

Another, more informal use of needy is as a negative adjective meaning demanding or having a lot needs to be met. It’s especially used to describe someone who requires a lot of attention in a relationship. A similar term is high-maintenance.

Example: The food bank is intended for needy people who have no other way to get food.

The first records of needy come from the 1100s. It comes from the Middle English nedi. It is a combination of the word need and the suffix -y, which means “having or characterized by” and is used to form adjectives from nouns. (Someone who’s hungry has hunger. Someone who’s needy has needs.) Needy has been used as a noun for almost as long. Many adjectives are used as nouns in the same way, such as the rich and the poor. As a noun, needy commonly appears in the redundant phrase the poor and needy. 

Needy is another way of saying someone is in a state of poverty. The term is especially used in the context of charity organizations whose stated mission is to help the needy through donations, community service, and other ways. Helping the needy is encouraged in many religions, and many places of worship take up collections for needy families.

The more informal use of needy is especially applied to relationship partners. It’s always negative and is often used alongside other negative adjectives like clingy and naggy. A person who’s described as needy in this sense has a lot of needs, and they expect and usually demand their needs to be prioritized above those of others.

What are some other forms related to needy?

• needier (comparative adjective)
• neediest (superlative adjective)
• needily (adverb)
• unneedy (adjective)

What are some synonyms for needy?

• poor
• in need
• destitute
• disadvantaged
• underprivileged 

What are some words that share a root or word element with needy? 

• need

What are some words that often get used in discussing needy?

• poverty
• families
• money
• charity
• donation
• homeless

When it means “poor” or “the poor,” needy is especially used in the context of charity. When it’s used to describe a person as demanding, it’s always negative—it might even be given as the reason someone broke up with the person they were dating.

Let no one amongst us gain or seek popularity out of giving to the needy. This is not the time for social media videos and pictures of showing off charity; the needy have dignity too!

— Julius Sello Malema (@Julius_S_Malema) April 10, 2020

I congratulate all Muslims as they commence this year’s Ramadan fast, which is depicted by self-denial, universal brotherhood, austerity and helping relatives and needy people.

— Muhammadu Buhari (@MBuhari) April 23, 2020

so I have realised I’m really needy and need constant attention 🥴

— mel (@melissaawilson_) April 22, 2020

Which of the following terms is NOT a synonym for needy?

A. impoverished
B. poor
C. wealthy
D. in need