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
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.
That included freshmen Elzie Harrington and Tae Simmons, who, needless to say, did not look like freshmen. Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Nov. 2025 All of these issues combined have left Target with a workforce that has grown faster than sales and a complex corporate structure that has hampered decision-making and created needless red tape. Gabrielle Fonrouge,annie Palmer,frank Holland, CNBC, 4 Nov. 2025 Deion Sanders is currently in the middle of his third season as head coach of the Colorado Buffaloes, and needless to say, things are not exactly going well. Matthew Schmidt, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2025 So, needless to say, this is our biggest and most ambitious season yet. James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 30 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for needless

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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Needless.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/needless. Accessed 8 Nov. 2025.

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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