Needy

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈniːdi/
• Rhymes: -iːdi

Origin

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"), Dutch nodig ("necessary"), Middle Low German nōdich ("necessary, urgent, by requirement"), German nötig ("necessary, needful"), Danish nødig ("necessary"), Swedish nödig ("necessary"), Icelandic nauðugur ("constrained").

Full definition of needy

Adjective

1. In need, poor.Needy people want to give too, but have few material goods to offer.
• 29 February 2012, Aidan Foster-Carter, BBC News North Korea: The denuclearisation dance resumeshttp://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-17213948Such monitoring has often been a sticking point in the past, amid fears that food aid might be diverted to the Northern elite - or its military - rather than the needy.
2. Desiring constant affirmation, lacking in self confidence"It's emotionally exhausting to be around her because she's so needy."

Antonyms

• ("desiring constant affirmation): confident

Synonyms

• ("in need"): See also

Derived terms

• neediness