Definition of NEEDY

needy

Noun

  • needy people collectively
    • "they try to help the needy"

Adjective Satellite

  • poor enough to need help from others
  • demanding or needing attention, affection, or reassurance to an excessive degree

Adj

  • In need; poor.
  • Desiring constant affirmation; lacking self-confidence.
  • Needful; necessary.

Adjective

  • Poor and requiring basic necessities.

Examples

  • After a streak of bad draws, his tile rack looked truly needy.
  • It's emotionally exhausting to be around her because she's so needy.
  • Needy people want to give too, but have few material goods to offer.

Origin / Etymology

From Middle English nedy, nedi (“necessitous”), from Old English nēdiġ, *nīediġ ("of need, obligated, compelled"; found in the derivative nīediġnes (“obligation”)), from Proto-Germanic *naudigaz (“of need, forced, compelled”), equivalent to need + -y. Cognate with Scots nedy, neidy (“needy, necessitous, impoverished”), Saterland Frisian niedich (“miserable, poor, wretched, needy”), Saterland Frisian nöödich (“necessary, needful”), West Frisian nedich (“needful, needed”), Dutch nodig (“necessary”), Middle Low German nōdich (“necessary, urgent, by requirement”), German nötig (“necessary, needful”), Danish nødig (“necessary”), Swedish nödig (“necessary”), Icelandic nauðugur (“constrained”).

Synonyms

destitute, impoverished, indigent, necessitous, poverty-stricken

Antonyms

confident, self-sufficient

Scrabble Score: 9

needy: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Word
needy: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
needy: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 9

needy: valid Words With Friends Word