necessary 1 of 2

adjective

ˈne-sə-ˌser-ē How to pronounce necessary (audio)
Definition of necessarynext
1
as in required
forcing one's compliance or participation by or as if by law an emissions test is necessary before you can renew the registration for your car

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2
as in inevitable
impossible to avoid or evade taxes will always be a necessary evil

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3
as in essential
impossible to do without food and water are necessary for survival

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

necessary

2 of 2

noun

as in must
something necessary, indispensable, or unavoidable a modest income that provided the family with only the necessaries of life

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of necessary
Adjective
Securing approval for those additional indications is likely necessary for Icotyde to become one of J & J's biggest drugs of all time , as executives have projected. — Kevin Stankiewicz, CNBC, 13 Oct. 2026 Training and enforcement are necessary to reduce legal, ethical and operational risks while empowering employees to use AI responsibly and productively. — Jennifer C. Wolfe, Forbes.com, 13 Oct. 2026
Noun
At George Washington’s Mount Vernon plantation in Virginia there were several such necessaries on the grounds. — New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 12 Apr. 2025 Among other necessaries will be Israeli control of the Philadelphi corridor separating Gaza from Egypt, to ensure that Hamas can’t resupply itself with weapons. — Bret Stephens, Mercury News, 4 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for necessary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for necessary
  1. required
  2. inevitable
  3. essential
  4. must
  5. mandatory
  6. possible
  7. needed
  8. requirement
Adjective
  • An agent that gathers records or checks for required information may operate with limited intervention.
    — Heather Bassett, Forbes.com, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Balderaz was also stabbed in the arm during a struggle and required stitches at the hospital, officials said.
    — Richard Ramos, CBS News, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of required
Adjective
  • Royal was committed to Texas for nearly a year, but everyone with any inside knowledge believed a flip to the instate Tigers was inevitable.
    — Austin Perry OutKick, FOXNews.com, 15 Oct. 2026
  • The issue of Japan's aging society and its shrinking workforce are an inescapable part of life in Japan, and foreign workers are an inevitable part of the solution.
    — Brittney Melton, NPR, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of inevitable
Adjective
  • This would be particularly relevant in contested environments where drones can observe roads, locate logistics convoys and attack vehicles carrying ammunition, fuel, food and other essential supplies.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Blaze, previously more peripheral to the adventure, became essential.
    — Davide Abbatescianni, Variety, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of essential
Noun
  • Both also pride themselves in downfield blocking, a must for a team coached by a former receivers coach.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 14 Oct. 2026
  • For Olivia Allen, the second rotation of Ana Viktoria Dzinic’s solo at Nicoletti in Shoreditch—which coincides with a solo booth over at Frieze London—is a must.
    — Mahoro Seward, Vogue, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of must
Adjective
  • In Southern California, the city of Long Beach has issued a mandatory evacuation order for some homes through Tuesday.
    — Erika Angulo, NBC news, 11 Oct. 2026
  • Long Beach issued a mandatory evacuation order for residents of Seaside Walk between 64th and 66th Place.
    — Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of mandatory
Adjective
  • The students who stepped forward when their teacher collapsed playing basketball in Michigan illustrate what becomes possible when CPR skills are taught before they are needed.
    — Meng Yang, Time, 18 Oct. 2026
  • The film team had to come up with a strategy to capture as much as possible without interfering with Schnell’s challenge.
    — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of possible
Adjective
  • Schools closed before Isaias swept through the region last Friday and have been scrambling to make needed repairs to facilities while awaiting power restoration.
    — Ana Goñi-Lessan, Miami Herald, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Many shelters are operated by nonprofit organizations but owned by the city or private entities, limiting the nonprofit’s ability to make needed improvements.
    — Jeffrey Ginsburg, New York Daily News, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of needed
Noun
  • However, the bill would also preempt certain state requirements covering public risk disclosures, independent evaluations, and critical incident reporting.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2026
  • The legislation enacts new work requirements and greater vetting for Medicaid, the low-income program that thousands of Alaskans depend on for healthcare.
    — Matthew Choi The Washington Post, Arkansas Online, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of requirement

Browse Nearby Words

necessarily
necessary
necessitate
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Cite this Entry

“Necessary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/necessary. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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