adj
Meaning 1
In need; poor.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
- Needy people want to give too, but have few material goods to offer.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Standard Lemma guide
needy
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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/ˈniːdi/
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US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
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rhymes with -iːdi
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CMU ARPABET: N IY1 D IY0 Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
adj
Meaning 2
Desiring constant affirmation; lacking self-confidence.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
- Near-synonym: clingy
- It's emotionally exhausting to be around her because she's so needy.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: clingy
Antonyms: none provided
adj
Meaning 3
Needful; necessary.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: archaic
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
adjective satellite
Meaning 4
demanding or needing attention, affection, or reassurance to an excessive degree
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
adjective satellite
Meaning 5
poor enough to need help from others
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: destitute, impoverished, indigent, necessitous, poverty-stricken
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 6
needy people collectively
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
- they try to help the needy
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: poor people, poor
History
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”).
Across languages
Translations
3 source translations are retained for this English entry.
- Portuguese: carente — needing constant affirmation
- Spanish: necesitante — needing constant affirmation
- Spanish: necesitoso — needing constant affirmation