Absence
Absence noun - A state of being without something necessary, desirable, or useful.
Usage example: the absence of volunteers to be troop leaders is putting the scouting program in real jeopardy
Need is a synonym for absence in lack topic. In some cases you can use "Need" instead a noun "Absence", when it comes to topics like deficiency.
Nearby Word: absent
Need
Need noun - A state of being without something necessary, desirable, or useful.
Usage example: when it came time to wrap the presents, he found he was in need of adhesive tape
Mutual synonyms
How words are described
| emotional | emotional absence | emotional need |
| physical | physical absence | physical need |
| long | long absence | long need |
| particular | particular absence | particular need |
| Other adjectives: obvious, actual, distinct, constant, large, big, absolute, psychological, frequent, general, possible, apparent, reduced, last, sudden. | ||
Both words in one sentence
-
This sort of prison is an absolute hellhole - between the lack of food and proper clothing, the absence of light or sanitation, the sadistic guards, and the violently insane fellow prisoners, they hardly need the nasty looking torture equipment they probably have scattered around.
Source: Hellhole Prison - Later it is demonstrated that, in the absence of a conscience, humans really don't need bad angels to turn into monsters.
- For three years, in the absence of a name, they call him "Ravenwings." Even the most independent of beings need a little help sometimes.
Source: Fanfic Recs / Kid Icarus
Cite this Source
Need and Absence. (2016). Retrieved 2026, August 16, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/absence/need
Absence & Need. N.p., 2016. Web. 16 Aug. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/absence/need>.
Need or Absence. 2016. Accessed August 16, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/absence/need.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "absence" and "need" have occurred on timeline