1. a state of extreme poverty • Syn: privation, want, deprivation • Derivationally related forms: needy, deprive (for: deprivation), want (for: want) • Hypernyms: poverty, poorness, impoverishment 2. the quality of needing attention and affection and reassurance to a marked degree - he recognized her neediness but had no time to respond to it • Derivationally related forms: needy • Hypernyms: quality