“Time he needed it most” implies a particular moment when someone required something, often support, help, or a specific resource, more than at any other time. Here are some synonyms and their analyses:
1. Moment when he needed it most
- Meaning: “Moment” refers to a specific point in time. Using “moment when he needed it most” is very similar to the original phrase. It emphasizes that precise instant when the person's need was at its greatest. For example, “The kind words came at the moment when he needed it most, lifting his spirits.” In comparison to “time he needed it most,” “moment when he needed it most” makes the timing seem even more specific and perhaps more poignant. It gives a sense of a critical juncture.
- Example: “The opportunity presented itself at the moment when he needed it most to prove his skills.”
2. Occasion when he was in greatest need
- Meaning: “Occasion” means a particular event or time when something happens. “Occasion when he was in greatest need” highlights that specific event or situation during which his need was the highest. For example, “During the financial crisis, that was the occasion when he was in greatest need of advice.” In relation to the original phrase, it broadens the idea from just a general “time” to a more defined situation or event where the need was prominent.
- Example: “The accident was the occasion when he was in greatest need of medical attention.”
3. Juncture at which he required it most
- Meaning: “Juncture” refers to a particular point in a sequence of events, especially one that marks a change or a critical stage. “Juncture at which he required it most” emphasizes that crucial point in the flow of things when his need reached its peak. For example, “At the juncture when he was about to give up, he received the encouragement he required it most.” In contrast to “time he needed it most,” “juncture at which he required it most” gives a stronger sense of a turning point or a decisive moment in a series of events.
- Example: “The end of the semester was the juncture at which he needed extra tutoring the most to pass the exams.”
4. Period when his need was greatest
- Meaning: “Period” refers to a length of time, usually longer than a moment. “Period when his need was greatest” suggests a span of time during which his need was consistently at a high level. For example, “During the recovery period after the surgery, that was the period when his need for care was greatest.” In comparison to the original phrase, it can imply a more extended time frame rather than just a single moment or instance.
- Example: “The months following the job loss were the period when his need for financial support was greatest.”