badly needed

USAGE SUMMARY

"badly needed" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you are describing something that is urgently required or essential. For example: "The aid package was badly needed following the devastating earthquake."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Rationalisation was badly needed.

The Economist

It was badly needed.

The New Yorker

Rest is badly needed".

The Guardian

Reform is badly needed.

The Guardian

It is badly needed.

The New York Times

Reconciliation is still badly needed.

The Economist

You are badly needed there".

The New Yorker

The funding is badly needed.

The Economist

True, changes are badly needed.

The New York Times

The place badly needed airing.

The New Yorker

I badly needed a chaser.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "badly needed", ensure the context clearly indicates what is lacking or required. Avoid ambiguity by specifying the subject in need.

Common error

Avoid using multiple intensifiers with "needed". Phrases like "very badly needed" can sound redundant. Instead, rely on the strength of "badly needed" itself to convey urgency.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "badly needed" functions as an adjectival modifier, typically describing a noun to emphasize the urgent or critical need for it. As Ludwig AI confirms, this usage aligns with standard English grammar. For example, "Reform is badly needed" shows how it modifies "reform".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

69%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Reference

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "badly needed" is a common and grammatically sound phrase used to emphasize the urgency and importance of a requirement. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is correct and widely applicable in various contexts. The phrase functions as an adjectival modifier, primarily found in news and media sources, though also present in scientific and formal business writing. While alternatives like "urgently required" or "critically necessary" exist, "badly needed" effectively conveys a strong sense of necessity. Remember to avoid redundant intensifiers and ensure the context clearly specifies what is lacking or required.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

urgently required

Emphasizes the pressing nature of the need, highlighting the time-sensitive aspect.

desperately required

Conveys a sense of extreme urgency and a feeling that the need is critical.

critically necessary

Highlights the essential nature of the need for a successful outcome.

sorely required

Indicates a strong need, often implying that the lack of it is causing hardship or difficulty.

vitally important

Stresses the importance of something to the point that it is essential for life or success.

imperative

Highlights the authoritative command or duty and critical urgency of something.

essential

Focuses on the fundamental requirement of something that cannot be dispensed with.

indispensable

Highlights the absolute necessity of something, suggesting it is irreplaceable.

highly crucial

Emphasizes the critical importance of something in achieving a desired outcome.

direly needed

Expresses a state of great urgency or desperation.

FAQs

How can I use "badly needed" in a sentence?

Use "badly needed" to describe something that is urgently required or essential. For instance, "The funding is "badly needed" for the project to succeed."

What are some alternatives to saying "badly needed"?

You can use alternatives such as "urgently required", "critically necessary", or "desperately required" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it correct to say "very badly needed"?

While understandable, "very badly needed" can be redundant. "Badly needed" already implies a high degree of necessity. It is often better to use "badly needed" on its own.

What is the difference between "badly needed" and "needed"?

"Needed" simply indicates a requirement. "Badly needed" emphasizes the urgency and critical nature of that requirement. The addition of "badly" intensifies the sense of necessity.