Needy: meaning, definitions and examples

Another form of the word 'needy' with the same meaning, often used synonymously.

• He's very needy and always asks for help with simple tasks.
• Her needy behavior can be exhausting for those around her.

Indicates reliance on someone or something else for support or sustenance. It is often neutral but can suggest lack of autonomy if overused.

• He's financially dependent on his parents while he's in college.
• The project is highly dependent on the funding from sponsors.

Often used in a negative sense to describe someone who sticks too closely to someone else, especially in relationships. It suggests overdependence and lack of personal space.

• She became very clingy after they started dating, always wanting to be with him.
• I need some space; you're being a bit too clingy.

Describes someone who makes difficult, exacting, or excessive demands on others. It can be used in both professional and personal contexts to indicate high expectations.

• Her boss is very demanding and expects her to work late hours every day.
• Children can be very demanding, always requiring attention and care.

Used when referring to people who require significant physical or emotional support. Can also refer to financial assistance but with a softer connotation.

• The charity provides food and shelter for needy families.
• She felt lonely and emotionally needy after the breakup.

Used when referring to a lack of basic material benefits or necessities. Often used in educational and health contexts.

• Children from deprived backgrounds often struggle to succeed in school.
• The community was deprived of clean drinking water for weeks.

Used to describe people who do not have the same advantages as others, often in terms of education and economic opportunities. Common in social service and policy discussions.

• The school provides scholarships to help underprivileged students.
• Volunteers worked to bring educational resources to underprivileged communities.

Used to describe individuals or areas severely affected by poverty. It has a more dire and dramatic tone.

• The poverty-stricken village had no access to medical facilities.
• He grew up in a poverty-stricken neighborhood with limited opportunities.