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Hungry vs Needy - What's the difference?

hungry | needy |

As adjectives the difference between hungry and needy

is that hungry is affected by hunger; desiring of food; having a physical need for food while needy is in need, poor.

hungry

English

Adjective

(er)
  • Affected by hunger; desiring of food; having a physical need for food.
    • My kids go to bed hungry every night because I haven't got any money .
  • (figuratively) Eager, having an avid desire ('appetite') for something.
  • * Charles Kingsley
    • The cruel, hungry foam.
  • * Shakespeare
    • Cassius has a lean and hungry look.
  • Not rich or fertile; poor; barren; starved.
    • a hungry soil
  • * Shakespeare
    • The hungry beach.

    Synonyms

    * (sense)

    Derived terms

    * * * *

    See also

    * * 1000 English basic words

    needy

    English

    Adjective

    (er)
  • In need, poor.
    • Needy people want to give too, but have few material goods to offer.
  • * 29 February 2012 , Aidan Foster-Carter, BBC News North Korea: The denuclearisation dance resumes [http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-17213948]
    • Such monitoring has often been a sticking point in the past, amid fears that food aid might be diverted to the Northern elite - or its military - rather than the needy.
  • Desiring constant affirmation, lacking in self confidence
    • "It's emotionally exhausting to be around her because she's so needy ."

    Antonyms

    * ("desiring constant affirmation): confident

    Synonyms

    * ("in need"): See also

    Derived terms

    * neediness