needy

needy — adjective

1. having very little money and lacking the basic things required to live, such as

1.adjectiveB1
Definition

having very little money and lacking the basic things required to live, such as enough food, warm clothes, or a decent place to stay.

Example

The charity sends boxes of warm clothes to needy families before each winter.

collocation: needy families

Amihan helps at a kitchen that serves free meals to needy people in her area.

collocation: needy people

Common collocations
  • needy families
  • needy people
  • needy children
  • needy communities
  • needy households
  • help the needy
  • support the needy
Synonyms
  • poor

    the most general word for lacking money; 'needy' emphasises lacking basic necessities

  • destitute

    much stronger — having no money or possessions at all; more formal

  • disadvantaged

    broader — includes lack of education or opportunities, not only money

  • impoverished

    more formal, often describes a region or group rather than a person

Antonyms
  • wealthy

    having a lot of money and valuable possessions

  • well-off

    having enough money to live very comfortably

Grammar Patterns

needy + noun

be + needy

become + needy

Common Mistakes

She is a needy.
She is needy.
'needy' is an adjective and cannot follow 'a' as a noun.

2. constantly needing more emotional support, affection, or attention from others t

2.adjectiveB2
Definition

constantly needing more emotional support, affection, or attention from others than is considered ordinary, to an extent that can feel draining.

Example

Piotr ended the relationship because his girlfriend was too needy and called him every hour.

pattern: too needy

After the breakup, Samir realised his ex-partner had been extremely needy and insecure.

adverb collocation: extremely needy

Common collocations
  • too needy
  • extremely needy
  • a bit needy
  • feel needy
  • become needy
  • needy partner
  • needy friend
Synonyms
  • clingy

    more informal; specifically describes someone who does not want to be apart from a partner

  • dependent

    broader — can refer to financial or physical reliance, not only emotional

  • insecure

    focuses on the internal feeling of doubt rather than the external demand for attention

Antonyms
  • independent

    not needing or wanting support from others

  • self-sufficient

    able to meet one's own emotional needs without relying on others

Grammar Patterns

be + needy

too + needy

seem + needy

find + someone + needy

Usage Note

Commonly used in the pattern 'too needy'. Can describe people or animals, but not objects. Often carries a mildly negative or frustrated tone and is used when the speaker feels the other person's demands are unreasonable.

Common Mistakes

He is a needy.
He is needy.
'needy' is an adjective in this sense and is not used as a countable noun.

needy — noun

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All four words describe a lack of money or resources, but they differ in degree and scope. 'Poor' is the most neutral and widely used term — it describes anyone with limited money. 'Needy' goes a step further, implying that a person lacks basic necessities such as food or shelter. 'Destitute' is the strongest: it means having absolutely nothing and being entirely dependent on outside help. 'Disadvantaged' is broader and more formal — it covers not only financial poverty but also a lack of education, healthcare, and social opportunities. 'Impoverished' is the most formal and is often used to describe regions or populations rather than individuals. For example: 'The charity provides meals for needy families, not just poor ones.' 'After losing everything in the fire, the family was left destitute.' 'The programme supports disadvantaged children with scholarships and mentoring.'

poor ↗destitutedisadvantagedimpoverished

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • the poor and the needy
  • the sick and the needy

Etymology

Proto-GermanicOld EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

The adjective 'needy' comes from the Old English word 'nied' (meaning necessity, compulsion, or distress), which goes back to the Proto-Germanic root '*naudiz'. In Middle English, the noun 'nede' (need) combined with the suffix '-y' to form 'nedy', which originally meant 'in a state of need or poverty'. The emotional-psychological sense of the word — wanting excessive attention or affection — did not appear until the mid-20th century.