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.

See Examples For:

neediest

Yet Mr. Kelly is willing to deprive the neediest children of access to the greatest blessing America could offer: a high-quality education.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 18, 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

I judge a country by how it treats its neediest.

From BBC ● Apr. 28, 2025

He gained enemies along the way but also followers who cast him as a Dickensian hero willing to fight for the neediest.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 9, 2024

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