in·dis·pens·a·ble

(ĭn′dĭ-spĕn′sə-bəl)

adj.

1. Absolutely necessary; essential.

2. Obligatory; unavoidable: the routine but indispensable ceremonies of state.

One that is indispensable.

in′dis·pens′a·bil′i·ty, in′dis·pens′a·ble·ness n.

in′dis·pens′a·bly adv.

Synonyms: indispensable, critical, essential, necessary, requisite
These adjectives apply to something that cannot be dispensed with: foods that are indispensable to good nutrition; education that is critical to success; funds essential to completing the project; the necessary tools for the job; lacking the requisite qualifications for the position.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Noun

indispensableness - the quality possessed by something that you cannot possibly do without

indispensability, vitalness

essentiality, essentialness - basic importance

dispensability, dispensableness - the quality possessed by something that you can get along without

Mentioned in

References in classic literature

Partly to show the indispensableness of this act, it may here be stated, that, in the old Dutch fishery, a mop was used to dash the running line with water; in many other ships, a wooden piggin, or bailer, is set apart for that purpose.

View in context

captures the importance, nay indispensableness of the pigeonholing to

Cultural Adaption Interventions: Appraising a Mainstay of not a Challenge to the Whitenizing Homogenization of Mental Health Establishmentarianism: From the Pigeonhole to the Reconstructionist Horizon

(e) Partly to show the indispensableness of this act, it may here be stated, that, in the old Dutch fishery, a mop was used to dash the running line with water; in many other ships, a wooden piggin, or bailer, is set apart for that purpose.

Part VII: Herman Melville's "; or The Whale"

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