NEEDY

Meaning

In need; poor.

Etymology

Origin: Old English

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”), Saterland Frisian niedich (“miserable, poor, wretched, needy”), Saterland Frisian nöödich (“necessary, needful”), West Frisian nedich (“needful, needed”), Dutch nodig (“necessary”), Middle Low German nōdich (“necessary, urgent, by requirement”), German nötig (“necessary, needful”), Danish nødig (“necessary”), Swedish nödig (“necessary”), Icelandic nauðugur (“constrained”).

Synonyms & Antonyms

NYT Puzzle Appearances

Accepted in 10 recorded puzzles:

• 2026-09-04DAELNYZ
• 2025-12-26NAJDCEY
• 2025-10-21YDEHMNO
• 2025-02-22DYEWOHN
• 2025-02-03NDVIELY
• 2024-07-22NDEHMOY
• 2023-11-14NDELPTY
• 2023-08-09NZAYEDL
• 2023-06-02YAIDCNE
• 2023-03-21NYCVEDO