needless

adjective

need·​less ˈnēd-ləs How to pronounce needless (audio)
: not needed : unnecessary
needless waste
needlessly adverb
needlessness noun
Phrases
needless to say
: as is self-evident or to be expected

Examples of needless in a Sentence

needless expenditures that pushed the construction project way over budget
Recent Examples on the Web Over the course of the more than two-hour sit-down, the former Fox News host turned online commentator largely refrained from challenging the Russian authoritarian, whose brutal war on Ukraine has led to the needless deaths of hundreds of thousands of people. Oliver Darcy, CNN, 8 Feb. 2024 Accidents caused by drivers holding phones or being distracted trying to manipulate the screen cause accidents with needless injuries and higher insurance costs to all of us. Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 11 Jan. 2024 To Givan, Birmingham authorities were inviting needless criticism by not sharing the video with the public, just as police in Montgomery had done after the Pettaway killing. Umar Farooq, ProPublica, 28 Dec. 2023 So, needless to say, Dr. Barrett is also a fan of eating before working out. Lisa Desantis, Glamour, 25 Dec. 2023 But what is most appalling is when an injustice is ignored for decades and brings needless hardship to billions of people—even more so when the solutions are right in front of us. Akinwumi Adesina, Fortune, 5 Dec. 2023 The representative warned me to turn off the cell network after making calls and sending texts overseas, because the data could be caught in a needless roaming situation on some of her apps. Scott Kramer, Forbes, 28 Nov. 2023 Few contractors would travel to a place so remote, and the people Hinton hired made needless mistakes (running a drainage pipe uphill, leaving floors half finished) that still enrage him today. Joshua Rothman, The New Yorker, 13 Nov. 2023 Jon, needless to say, the Grammys love you, justifiably. Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 29 Nov. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'needless.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of needless was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near needless

Cite this Entry

“Needless.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/needless. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

needless

adjective
need·​less ˈnēd-ləs How to pronounce needless (audio)
needlessly adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on needless

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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