as in extra
not needed by the circumstances or to accomplish an end
that large suitcase is unnecessary—we are only going to be away for a couple of days
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of unnecessary
The interface is clean and easy to use, with no unnecessary features getting in the way.
—
Stackcommerce Team, PC Magazine, 28 June 2025
And so long as there are desperate network and streaming executives, there will always be the chance of an unnecessary spinoff, even if none are officially planned at the moment.
—Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 27 June 2025
Certainly 96 jets for a reported 200 guests — or roughly two people per plane — seems excessive and unnecessary.
—Martha Ross, Mercury News, 25 June 2025
This means finally giving NPs, PAs, and other APPs the ability to practice at the tops of their licenses, without the need for burdensome and unnecessary physician oversight.
—Web Golinkin, Forbes.com, 19 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for unnecessary
Stackcommerce Team, PC Magazine, 28 June 2025
And so long as there are desperate network and streaming executives, there will always be the chance of an unnecessary spinoff, even if none are officially planned at the moment.
—Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 27 June 2025
Certainly 96 jets for a reported 200 guests — or roughly two people per plane — seems excessive and unnecessary.
—Martha Ross, Mercury News, 25 June 2025
This means finally giving NPs, PAs, and other APPs the ability to practice at the tops of their licenses, without the need for burdensome and unnecessary physician oversight.
—Web Golinkin, Forbes.com, 19 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for unnecessary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unnecessary
Adjective
-
Both could conceivably take PSG to extra time and/or PKs, where anything could happen.—
Tyler Everett,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 July 2025
-
This foldable stool is easy to move and store for extra table space.—
Jacqueline Tempera,
People.com,
7 July 2025
Adjective
-
Once in the main lounge, La Première customers can now book optional suites with a butler, a spacious living room, a bedroom with a double bed, a bathroom, and even an outdoor patio.—
Michele Robson,
Fortune,
5 July 2025
-
However, in today's rapidly changing business landscape, empathy has become essential, not optional.—
Heather V. MacArthur,
Forbes.com,
3 July 2025
Adjective
-
Brandon Johnson, needless to say, now is Chicago mayor, having defeated Lightfoot in 2023.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
25 June 2025
-
Advertisement Far from marking a needless escalation, this week’s strikes degrading Iran’s nuclear capabilities represent a step closer to peace and prosperity for the U.S., the Middle East, and the world.—
Jeffrey Sonnenfeld,
Time,
22 June 2025
Adjective
-
Geography becomes irrelevant when AI handles the grunt work.—
Steven Wolfe Pereira,
Forbes.com,
3 July 2025
-
Talking about Linux in this context is pretty irrelevant anyways, since the Xbox consoles run a variant of Windows.—
Will Greenwald,
PC Magazine,
1 July 2025
Adjective
-
The district also reduced bus routes to the state minimum and cut nonessential programming for teachers, Wilson said.—
The Enquirer,
The Enquirer,
2 July 2025
-
The State Department has begun evacuating nonessential government personnel and their families from Israel, as the conflict with Iran heats up and President Trump weighs greater U.S. involvement.—
Sarah Fortinsky,
The Hill,
19 June 2025
Adjective
-
But such deference is inappropriate and unwarranted under Supreme Court precedents when a law burdens a group that has been historically subjected to discrimination.—
Erwin Chemerinsky,
Mercury News,
22 June 2025
-
Our elevated emotions surrounding this shopping holiday aren’t unwarranted either, since, almost exactly a year ago, Amazon doled out unprecedented markdowns and is now promising that even more goodies will soon come down the pike.—
Stacia Datskovska,
Footwear News,
21 June 2025
Adjective
-
Or will their introduction simply make swathes of manual workers redundant?—
Bernard Marr,
Forbes.com,
2 July 2025
-
The expectation that second-time brides should pare down their look finally waned in the 1980s, and these stringent sartorial rules became redundant.—
Leah Dolan,
CNN Money,
30 June 2025
Adjective
-
And the hierarchy must consider who else is dispensable and at what price.—
Henry Flynn,
Forbes.com,
16 May 2025
-
To become a machine, after all, is to become usable and, perhaps, dispensable.—
James Poniewozik,
New York Times,
14 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Unnecessary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unnecessary. Accessed 11 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share