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Antonyms for necessity


Grammar : Noun
Spell : nuh-ses-i-tee
Phonetic Transcription : nəˈsɛs ɪ ti



Definition of necessity

Origin :
  • late 14c., "constraining power of circumstances," from Old French necessité "need, necessity; privation, poverty; distress, torment; obligation, duty" (12c.), from Latin necessitatem (nominative necessitas) "compulsion, need for attention, unavoidableness, destiny," from necesse (see necessary). Meaning "condition of being in need" in English is from late 15c.
  • Necessity is the Mother of Invention. [Richard Franck, c.1624-1708, English author and angler, "Northern Memoirs," 1658]
  • To maken vertu of necessite is in Chaucer. Related: Necessities.
  • noun need, essentiality
Example sentences :
  • And of necessity, even the noble have their moments of deshabille.
  • Extract from : « The Spenders » by Harry Leon Wilson
  • To Kate, for instance, she was a necessity of existence, like light or air.
  • Extract from : « Malbone » by Thomas Wentworth Higginson
  • Whoever rejects it does of necessity fly to anarchy or to despotism.
  • Extract from : « United States Presidents' Inaugural Speeches » by Various
  • You think I must of necessity, as matters are circumstanced, be Solmes's wife.
  • Extract from : « Clarissa, Volume 1 (of 9) » by Samuel Richardson
  • She made a virtue of necessity; and the man was quite another man with her. '
  • Extract from : « Clarissa, Volume 1 (of 9) » by Samuel Richardson
  • Of the world as it is the outstanding fact is the necessity for struggle.
  • Extract from : « The Conquest of Fear » by Basil King
  • What is mystery for one age is not of necessity mystery for another.
  • Extract from : « The Conquest of Fear » by Basil King
  • My land would not grow corn enough, or good enough for my necessity.
  • Extract from : « Weighed and Wanting » by George MacDonald
  • But indeed Vavasor could swim, well enough, only he did not see the necessity for it.
  • Extract from : « Weighed and Wanting » by George MacDonald
  • What if their necessity of simulating it comes of its absolute necessity!
  • Extract from : « Weighed and Wanting » by George MacDonald

Synonyms for necessity

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019