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.
According to a survey by Brightline Initiative and The Economist Intelligence Unit, 53% of senior executives agree that inadequate delivery capability leaves their organizations unnecessarily exposed to competitors. Andrew Lopez, Forbes.com, 18 June 2025 Trump is unnecessarily sending hundreds of Marines into California, again, without coordinating with state and local officials. Tom Zirpoli, Baltimore Sun, 17 June 2025 Some of the incidents from last season weren’t egregious per se, such as driving unnecessarily slowly in qualifying, while others were a direct result of battling with another driver, including several incidents with Lando Norris. Madeline Coleman, New York Times, 14 June 2025 Veterans are often left to navigate their struggles with limited tools, while a promising treatment remains unnecessarily restricted. Laura Hartman, The Orlando Sentinel, 12 June 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 3 Jul. 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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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