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.
Porter was monitoring the concentration to insure that the scene didn’t turn unnecessarily deadly. Katie Thornton, New Yorker, 24 Oct. 2025 People will seek care later, get sicker, and, tragically, suffer or die unnecessarily. Dr. Bryce Pulliam, Time, 24 Oct. 2025 But such a response to a false alarm will mean the cell will die unnecessarily. Viviane Callier, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2025 Watts pressed further, Porter grew visibly frustrated, and finally Porter accused Watts of being unnecessarily combative. Kathleen Walsh, Glamour, 9 Oct. 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 27 Oct. 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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