as in extra
not needed by the circumstances or to accomplish an end
that large suitcase is unnecessary—we are only going to be away for a couple of days
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of unnecessary
The Food and Drug Administration declared in 2021 that this requirement was medically unnecessary.
—
Brittney Melton, NPR, 12 May 2026
Still, miscommunication or vague expectations at work could create unnecessary frustrations.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 11 May 2026
For people wondering how to avoid microplastics, experts say one of the smartest moves is simply cutting back on unnecessary plastic use.
—Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 May 2026
On communicating the potential danger to the public, Bhattacharya said the CDC does not want to cause unnecessary panic.
—Caitlin Yilek, CBS News, 11 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for unnecessary
Brittney Melton, NPR, 12 May 2026
Still, miscommunication or vague expectations at work could create unnecessary frustrations.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 11 May 2026
For people wondering how to avoid microplastics, experts say one of the smartest moves is simply cutting back on unnecessary plastic use.
—Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 May 2026
On communicating the potential danger to the public, Bhattacharya said the CDC does not want to cause unnecessary panic.
—Caitlin Yilek, CBS News, 11 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for unnecessary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unnecessary
Adjective
-
The spa Indoor and outdoor pools here provide extra options for entertainment, and the patio’s sunbeds see a lot of attention, especially on weekends when rates often drop here.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
14 May 2026
-
Do not bury the point under extra polish.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
14 May 2026
Adjective
-
The other one — pushed by municipal leaders opposed to significant portions of Pritzker’s bill — would make participation by local governments in pro-density policies optional.—
Jeremy Gorner,
Chicago Tribune,
11 May 2026
-
The yacht can sleep up to 12 guests across the five staterooms, but optional Pullmans create more accommodation if required.—
Rachel Cormack,
Robb Report,
11 May 2026
Adjective
-
Their thinking addresses a number of important, mostly non-environmental, social goals, and touches a nerve in many of us who have seen needless bureaucracy stop good things.—
John Reid,
The Atlantic,
14 May 2026
-
Local advocates say needless removals and inadequate watering are threatening decades of neighborhood cooling and environmental health benefits.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
7 May 2026
Adjective
-
Deadline asked Katz whether Brilliant Minds’ cancellation was a foregone conclusion since the scheduling of the final episodes makes their performance irrelevant.—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
11 May 2026
-
To take the music too seriously was to operate from an irrelevant paradigm.—
David L. Ulin,
The Atlantic,
11 May 2026
Adjective
-
Officials on Sunday were also asking nonessential businesses to close and said their water service would be shut off.—
Veronica Ortega,
CBS News,
11 May 2026
-
New York Penn Station will also only be open to matchgoers beginning four hours before the start of games, and area residents were urged to avoid nonessential NJ Transit travel on game days.—
Ryan Morik,
FOXNews.com,
8 May 2026
Adjective
-
Aside from the occasional signs of energy from Urban, the movie only really sparks to life when laser-eyed Australian mercenary Kano (Josh Lawson) is brought back for reasons even the other characters in the movie acknowledge are unwarranted.—
Alison Willmore,
Vulture,
6 May 2026
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Meanwhile, Kimmel’s defenders have said outcry over a joke is unwarranted and an attack on free speech.—
Ian Miller OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
29 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
In their announcement on Tuesday, Patrick and Burrows acknowledged that some camps are having difficulty complying and that there are other ways to obtain reliable, redundant internet access.—
Jack Fink,
CBS News,
5 May 2026
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If all of that body-happy lingo sounds a little redundant, there’s an exclamation point at the end of it.—
Rosemary Feitelberg,
Footwear News,
4 May 2026
Adjective
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Ornaments are no more dispensable than foundations.—
Justin Davidson,
Curbed,
23 Apr. 2026
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Many people are trying to protect themselves from becoming dispensable as the role of AI expands in the workplace, said Erik Brynjolfsson, an economics professor at Stanford University and the director of the Stanford Digital Economy Lab.—
Annie Nova,
CNBC,
25 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Unnecessary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unnecessary. Accessed 19 May. 2026.
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