Need and Problem

Need

Need noun - A state of being without something necessary, desirable, or useful.

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Problem and need are semantically related. In some cases you can use "Problem" instead a noun "Need".

Nearby Words: needed, needs, needy, needless, needful

Problem noun - Something that requires thought and skill for resolution.

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Need and problem are semantically related. Sometimes you can use "Need" instead a noun "Problem".

Nearby Words: problematic, problematical

particular	particular need	particular problem
specific	specific need	specific problem
current	current need	current problem
original	original need	original problem
Other adjectives: single, obvious, actual, real, constant, severe, big, serious, huge, little, bad, personal, new, immediate, psychological, frequent, less, pressing, greater.

Discussed in the original Cosmos, in which Carl Sagan explains the problem and the need for a good clock when navigating.

Source: Useful Notes / The Longitude Problem
Or alternately, people with actual problems being offended that you dare write this stuff and assuming that you must, yourself, have a problem and need to go to therapy rather than write fanfiction.

Source: Flame War / Fan Fic
My rival is Neanderthal, it makes me think Perhaps I need a drink IQ is no problem here We won't be playing scrabble for her hand I fear I need that beer

Source: I Need a Freaking Drink

Cite this Source

Problem and Need. (2016). Retrieved 2026, July 21, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/need/problem

Need & Problem. N.p., 2016. Web. 21 Jul. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/need/problem>.

Problem or Need. 2016. Accessed July 21, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/need/problem.

Google Ngram Viewer shows how "need" and "problem" have occurred on timeline