neediness

C2+ Topic:Abstract Ideas

US /ˈnidinəs/ UK /ˈniːdinəs/ See IPA manual

Meanings

1

noun
the state of being in want, or of demanding excessive attention or affection

His constant calls betrayed a neediness she found exhausting.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · the state of being in want,... destitution indigence poverty want dependencyclinginessinsecurity

Opposites

self-sufficiencyindependence affluence wealth

Word family

Related forms need needy needful

Etymology

From needy (from need, from Old English nied, neod, 'necessity, distress', from Proto-Germanic *naudiz) plus -ness.

nied Old English *naudiz Proto-Germanic

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Abstract Ideas Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# neediness

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ˈnidinəs/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈniːdinəs/

## Meanings
1. the state of being in want, or of demanding excessive attention or affection

## Examples
- His constant calls betrayed a neediness she found exhausting.

## Synonyms
- destitution
- indigence
- poverty
- want
- dependency
- clinginess
- insecurity

## Antonyms
- self-sufficiency
- independence
- affluence
- wealth

## Related Forms
- need
- needy
- needful

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: nied
- Root: *naudiz

## Etymology
From needy (from need, from Old English nied, neod, 'necessity, distress', from Proto-Germanic *naudiz) plus -ness.

## AI Etymology
Neediness comes from needy (from need, from Old English nied, neod, 'necessity, distress', from Proto-Germanic *naudiz) plus -ness. The etymological trail includes Old English nied and Proto-Germanic *naudiz. As a noun, neediness means the state of being in want, or of demanding excessive attention or affection. The same family is visible in related forms such as need, needy, and needful.

## Topics
- Abstract Ideas
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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