as in unnecessary
not needed by the circumstances or to accomplish an end
don't pack any unessential items until we're sure we have room for everything we'll actually need
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Recent Examples of unessential
If no agreement occurs by September 30, the government will shut down all unessential services, ranging from air traffic controllers to staffers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) who monitor for disease outbreaks.
—
Fran Kritz, Verywell Health, 27 Sep. 2023
Their reunion doesn’t last long, as Sarah can’t keep away from the Pogue life, and through another tangle of unessential details, the whole crew comes together to discover the Cross of Santo Domingo in the ceiling of an old church.
—Lauren Puckett-Pope, ELLE, 22 Feb. 2023
Relegated to Marvel’s 1992 annual issues, Citizen Kang initially felt a little unessential.
—Joe George, Men's Health, 16 Feb. 2023
Each expert was hesitant about the current pandemic climate in Texas and the potential for increased spread through unessential activities.
—Callie Caplan, Dallas News, 12 Aug. 2020
See All Example Sentences for unessential
Fran Kritz, Verywell Health, 27 Sep. 2023
Their reunion doesn’t last long, as Sarah can’t keep away from the Pogue life, and through another tangle of unessential details, the whole crew comes together to discover the Cross of Santo Domingo in the ceiling of an old church.
—Lauren Puckett-Pope, ELLE, 22 Feb. 2023
Relegated to Marvel’s 1992 annual issues, Citizen Kang initially felt a little unessential.
—Joe George, Men's Health, 16 Feb. 2023
Each expert was hesitant about the current pandemic climate in Texas and the potential for increased spread through unessential activities.
—Callie Caplan, Dallas News, 12 Aug. 2020
See All Example Sentences for unessential
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unessential
unnecessary
Adjective
-
These scans can detect benign anomalies that trigger unnecessary follow-ups and patient anxiety.—
Sindhya Valloppillil,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2025
-
Court papers say the defendant, Farrukh Ali, conspired with at least 41 substance abuse clinics to bill the state for hundreds of millions of dollars for substance abuse services that were never provided, not provided as billed or were medically unnecessary.—
Ryan Lucas,
NPR,
30 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Unessential.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unessential. Accessed 14 Jul. 2025.
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