What Is Another Way to Say “Must Have”?

Looking for synonyms for must have? We’ve got you covered!

Here’s a list of other ways to say must have.

  • Essential
  • Necessary
  • Required
  • Mandatory
  • Imperative
  • Indispensable
  • Crucial
  • Vital
  • Obligatory
  • Compulsory
  • Prerequisite
  • Fundamental
  • Integral
  • Paramount
  • Core

Want to learn how to say must have professionally? Keep reading for examples and use cases.

1. Essential

Used to describe something absolutely necessary or extremely important in a specific context.
Example: “Having a clear strategy is essential for the success of the project.”

2. Necessary

Appropriate for something that is required or needed to achieve a certain result or fulfill a condition.
Example: “Regular training is necessary to maintain the team’s high performance levels.”

3. Required

Used when something is officially or formally demanded or expected.
Example: “A degree in civil engineering is required for this position.”

4. Mandatory

Appropriate for something that is obligatory by law or rules.
Example: “Attendance at the safety briefing is mandatory for all new employees.”

5. Imperative

Used to express something of great importance or urgency.
Example: “It is imperative that we meet the deadline to keep the client satisfied.”

6. Indispensable

Suitable for something or someone that is absolutely necessary and cannot be done without.
Example: “Her expertise in data analysis is indispensable for the research team.”

7. Crucial

Used to describe something of great importance, essential for a particular purpose or result.
Example: “Securing funding at this stage is crucial for the project’s continuation.”

8. Vital

Appropriate for something necessary to the existence, continuance, or well-being of something.
Example: “Maintaining confidentiality is vital for client trust.”

9. Obligatory

Used for something that is required by a legal, moral, or other rule; compulsory.
Example: “Filing an end-of-year financial report is obligatory for all departments.”

10. Compulsory

Suitable for something that is mandatory or enforced by a rule or law.
Example: “Participation in the fire drill is compulsory for all staff members.”

11. Prerequisite

Used to describe a thing that is required as a prior condition for something else to happen or exist.
Example: “Proficiency in multiple languages is a prerequisite for this international sales role.”

12. Fundamental

Appropriate for something that is a central or primary rule or principle on which something is based.
Example: “Understanding customer needs is fundamental to product development.”

13. Integral

Used to indicate something that is necessary to make a whole complete; essential or fundamental.
Example: “Regular communication is integral to effective team management.”

14. Paramount

Suitable for something that is more important than anything else; supreme.
Example: “Ensuring the safety of our employees is of paramount importance.”

15. Core

Used to describe something that is central, fundamental, or of great importance.
Example: “Adhering to ethical practices is a core value of our company.”

Linda Brown