in extreme need of

USAGE SUMMARY

"in extreme need of" is a grammatically correct phrase and can be used in written English.
It means to be in a state of urgent necessity or extreme lack of something. Example: The farmers in drought-stricken areas are in extreme need of rain to save their crops.

✓ Grammatically correct

African Journal of Emergency Medicine

The Guardian

University of Chicago

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Resource-constrained countries are in extreme need of pre-hospital emergency care systems.

African Journal of Emergency Medicine

At least 3.7 million people – about half of Somalia's population – need food, and around 3.2 million people are in extreme need of immediate, lifesaving aid because of drought and years of conflict.

The Guardian

In Pottawattamie County we are in extreme need of a good flouring-mill — such as we have in the country will only make from twenty to thirty pounds of flour to the p190 bushel.

University of Chicago

It is also wonderful to see our cities able to help those seniors who have no one to depend on and are in extreme need of help and services.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Members of the MDT who identified a patient in extreme need referred the patient to one of the social workers for assessment.

BMC Pediatrics

"If this disastrous strategy succeeded, hundreds of people in extreme need would once again no longer be helped".

The New Yorker

Food shortages are expected to peak between October, when supplies will run lowest, and March, when the next harvest is due, so the number of people in extreme need is expected to rise significantly if insufficient assistance is given.

The Guardian

A second objection also concerns situations in which individuals in extreme need can greatly benefit from the involvement of an agent.

SEP

In Somalia, 4 million people are in extreme need.

Unicef

In cases of extreme need, reversal of both female and male sterilization has been attempted, with more than 50 percent of patients later conceiving children.

Encyclopedia Britannica

On the other hand, in an emergency or in the case of other forms of extreme need, the needs of adult children sometimes have to take priority.

Bioethics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "in extreme need of" to emphasize the urgency or severity of a situation. It is appropriate when the lack of something is causing significant distress or danger.

Common error

Avoid using "in extreme need of" when a milder phrase like "needs" or "could benefit from" would be more appropriate. Overusing strong language can dilute its impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "in extreme need of" functions as a prepositional phrase modifying a noun or pronoun. As Ludwig AI suggests, it emphasizes the urgent and critical nature of a requirement or lack thereof. This expression intensifies the sense of necessity.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

25%

Less common in

Academia

25%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "in extreme need of" is a valid and grammatically correct expression used to convey a critical or urgent requirement. Ludwig AI provides real-world examples of its usage. Though relatively rare, the phrase is found across various contexts, including news, science, and formal business communications. It is important to reserve this phrase for situations where the need is genuinely critical, as overuse can diminish its impact. Related phrases like "in dire need of" and "urgently requires" can serve as alternatives to express a similar sense of urgency.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

In dire need of

Emphasizes the urgency and severity of the need.

In desperate need of

Highlights the urgency and potentially critical nature of the need.

Urgently requires

Focuses on the immediate requirement of something.

Critically requires

Stresses that something is essential and immediately needed.

Has a pressing need for

Indicates that the need is important and cannot be delayed.

Is acutely short of

Highlights the deficiency or lack of something.

Faces a severe shortage of

Focuses on the shortage and its significant impact.

Is gravely lacking in

Emphasizes the serious nature of the deficiency.

Is suffering a critical deficit of

Highlights the negative consequences of the shortage.

Requires immediate assistance with

Focuses on the necessity for prompt help or support.

FAQs

How can I use "in extreme need of" in a sentence?

Use "in extreme need of" to describe situations where something is urgently and critically required. For example, "After the hurricane, the coastal communities were in extreme need of food and shelter."

What are some alternatives to "in extreme need of"?

You can use alternatives like "in dire need of", "desperately requires", or "urgently needs" depending on the specific context.

Is it always appropriate to use "in extreme need of"?

No, it's best suited for situations where the need is truly critical and urgent. In less severe cases, consider using milder alternatives like "needs" or "could use".

What's the difference between "in extreme need of" and "in need of"?

"In extreme need of" conveys a greater sense of urgency and severity compared to the more general phrase "in need of". Use "in extreme need of" when the situation is critical.