- in need of practical or emotional support; distressed
- (as collective noun; preceded by the): the needy
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
need•y /ˈnidi/USA pronunciation
adj., -i•er, -i•est, n.
adj.
n.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026adj.
- poor;
destitute:donations to help needy families.
n.
- the needy, [plural] needy persons thought of as a group.
need•y
(nē′dē),USA pronunciation adj., need•i•er, need•i•est, n.
adj.
n.
need′i•ly, adv.
adj.
- in a condition of need or want;
poverty-stricken;
impoverished;
extremely poor;
destitute.
n.
- (used with a pl. v.) needy persons collectively (usually prec. by the):Help the needy.
- 1125–75; Middle English nedi; see need, -y1
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
needy /ˈniːdɪ/ adj (needier, neediest)
'needy' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
alms
- almshouse
- Grub Street
- hand-out
- indigent
- naughty
- necessitous
- needful
- poor
- relief
- ample
- bezonian
- bread line
- campership
- care
- care package
- comfort
- destitute
- donable
- extend
- food bank
- food stamp
- foster child
- generous
- handout
- heart
- hospital
- Hospitaler
- income maintenance
- mendicant
- mendicity
- miserable
- mission
- neediness
- pantry
- philanthropy
- present
- public housing
- remember
- welfare work
- shalach manoth
- soup kitchen
- strapped
- Supplemental Security Income