🤗 Wanting affection 🥺 Lacking support

needily

1 6.0

In a way that shows someone strongly wants attention or comfort

adverb
/ˈniːdɪli/

: ansiosamente

The child clung needily to his mother after waking from a nightmare.

Examples

She smiled needily, hoping for reassurance from her friends.
He looked needily at the teacher, waiting for approval.
She looked at him needily.
He asked needily for her attention.
The child clung needily to his mother's leg, wanting comfort and attention.
She spoke needily during the meeting, seeking validation from her colleagues.
He gazed needily at the audience, hoping for applause after his performance.

Synonyms

desperately

vsneedily

324 3.6

In a very urgent way because you feel a strong need or fear

expresses a strong social need for attention, help, or affection

beseechingly

vsneedily

Formal

1 7.8

In a begging way that shows strong need or hope

expresses need for attention, help, or affection rather than pleading

yearningly

vsneedily

1 6.9

In a way that shows a strong wish for something

expresses social need for attention, help, or affection rather than general longing

thirstily

vsneedily

1 3.8

Showing strong eagerness to learn or get something

expresses emotional social need for attention, help, or affection rather than general craving

Antonyms

independently

109 2.9

Without help from other people

How Needy

desperately

324 3.6

needily

1 6.0

insecurely

1 5.0

securely

1 3.7

Surface Forms

needily positive

Morphology

needily = needy (transparent) = need + y + ly

Regular derivation from 'needy' to form an adverb; the sense 'showing strong desire for attention or affection' is a common meaning of 'needy'.

Etymology

Needily comes from the word need ('strong want') and the ending -ly that makes it describe how someone behaves. Think of a child who keeps asking for attention or comfort; they act needily because they show a strong wish for help or affection. So, needily means behaving in a way that asks for attention, help, or comfort.