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unnecessarily

adverb

un·​nec·​es·​sar·​i·​ly ˌən-ˌne-sə-ˈser-ə-lē How to pronounce unnecessarily (audio)
: not by necessity : to an unnecessary degree
unnecessarily harsh criticism

Examples of unnecessarily in a Sentence

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.
Blame offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson for an unnecessarily conservative game plan in those losses. Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 5 Dec. 2025 To achieve more even drying and cut down on unnecessarily long drying time, aim to sort your laundry by fabric type or weight. Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Dec. 2025 Systems should prevent operator mistakes without unnecessarily limiting them. Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 28 Nov. 2025 Removing the requirement for manufacturers to test talc-containing products for asbestos will unnecessarily expose consumers, and especially women and their babies, to a powerful human carcinogen. Jasmine Laws, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for unnecessarily

Word History

First Known Use

1565, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of unnecessarily was in 1565

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Unnecessarily.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unnecessarily. Accessed 6 Dec. 2025.

Kids Definition

unnecessarily

adverb
un·​nec·​es·​sar·​i·​ly ˌən-ˌnes-ə-ˈser-ə-lē How to pronounce unnecessarily (audio)
1
: not by necessity
spent money unnecessarily
2
: to an unnecessary degree
an unnecessarily harsh punishment

More from Merriam-Webster on unnecessarily

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