needful

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.

The power to change the Kennedy Center marquee resides with Congress, which has authority to “make all needful Rules and Regulations respecting the Territory or other Property belonging to the United States.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 22, 2025

Many will be young men and women who will risk prison, or worse, to deliver the facts to a needful public — even if some of the public don't want to hear it.

From Salon • Apr. 14, 2022

However when pressed on exactly what this role would be, he said it would be to "evangelise and exhort everyone that she represents to do the needful" to restrict global warming.

From BBC • Aug. 4, 2021

Thicken the Baby Yoda gravy, if needful, with rice flour or with flour and Bantha butter, and serve plenty of Kowakian monkey-lizard forcemeat balls round the head.

From Slate • Nov. 24, 2019

To learn which questions are unanswerable, and not to answer them: this skill is most needful in times of stress and darkness.

From "The Left Hand of Darkness" by Ursula K. Le Guin