unnecessarily

adverb

un·​nec·​es·​sar·​i·​ly ˌən-ˌne-sə-ˈser-ə-lē 

: not by necessity : to an unnecessary degree

unnecessarily harsh criticism

Examples of unnecessarily in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Patients accused Heaps of groping them, performing unnecessarily invasive examinations and making suggestive comments. —Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 3 Feb. 2026

As the comedy progresses, its buoyant tone clenches and darkens, and the plot bends and lurches, in ways that, to me, felt unnecessarily punitive toward both Haru and the audience. —Justin Chang, New Yorker, 31 Jan. 2026

The Giants’ secondary is in major need of a jumpstart after a horrendous season on the back end courtesy of poor drafting, unnecessarily frequent staff turnover and lackadaisical play. —Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 31 Jan. 2026

Would honking unnecessarily scare residents who are already afraid? —Tim Sullivan, Fortune, 29 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1565, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for unnecessarily

• extraordinarily
• hereditarily
• pecuniarily
• preliminarily
• airily
• caroli
• merrily
• verily
• warily
• wearily
• arbitrarily
• customarily

Kids Definition

unnecessarily

adverb

un·​nec·​es·​sar·​i·​ly ˌən-ˌnes-ə-ˈser-ə-lē 

1

: not by necessity

spent money unnecessarily

2

: to an unnecessary degree

an unnecessarily harsh punishment