neediest

ADJECTIVE

deprived, impoverished

Synonyms

STRONGEST

destitute disadvantaged indigent penniless poor poverty-stricken underprivileged

STRONG

down-and-out flat

WEAK

beggared dead broke dirt poor down at heel down to last cent impecunious necessitous penurious unprosperous

Antonyms

STRONGEST

affluent lucky privileged prosperous rich wealthy

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

neediest

The argument from supporters is that the neediest children are boxed out of the credit.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 13, 2026

“Who will teach the children in the neediest schools? The communities will suffer. It’s cyclical, and it’s scary.”

From Salon ● Mar. 17, 2026

Less individualized attention means less support for the neediest students, she said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 10, 2025

I judge a country by how it treats its neediest.

From BBC ● Apr. 28, 2025

Fidelito was the neediest kid in the room, and so of course everyone pushed him around.

From "The House of the Scorpion" by Nancy Farmer