as in unnecessary
not needed by the circumstances or to accomplish an end
needless expenditures that pushed the construction project way over budget
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of needless
Many teens and even older persons have been impacted, resulting in needless suffering and death.
—
Robert Glatter, Forbes.com, 15 May 2025
Optimizing For Performance: To guarantee AI can get the appropriate data at the appropriate moment without needless latency or expenses, scalable infrastructure and effective data distribution methods should be put in place.
—Artyom Keydunov, Forbes.com, 19 May 2025
After recent excursions that have felt lacking for various reasons — sub-optimal stage design (Hungary, 2022), distance from Italy (Jerusalem, 2018), and a needless trip to one of cycling’s existing heartlands (Netherlands, 2016) — Albania was a vast improvement.
—Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 19 May 2025
Our worst nightmare is that weather forecast offices will be so understaffed that there will be needless loss of life.
—Louis Uccellini, Sun Sentinel, 13 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for needless
Robert Glatter, Forbes.com, 15 May 2025
Optimizing For Performance: To guarantee AI can get the appropriate data at the appropriate moment without needless latency or expenses, scalable infrastructure and effective data distribution methods should be put in place.
—Artyom Keydunov, Forbes.com, 19 May 2025
After recent excursions that have felt lacking for various reasons — sub-optimal stage design (Hungary, 2022), distance from Italy (Jerusalem, 2018), and a needless trip to one of cycling’s existing heartlands (Netherlands, 2016) — Albania was a vast improvement.
—Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 19 May 2025
Our worst nightmare is that weather forecast offices will be so understaffed that there will be needless loss of life.
—Louis Uccellini, Sun Sentinel, 13 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for needless
Recent Examples of Synonyms for needless
unnecessary
Adjective
-
This means finally giving NPs, PAs, and other APPs the ability to practice at the tops of their licenses, without the need for burdensome and unnecessary physician oversight.—
Web Golinkin,
Forbes.com,
19 June 2025
-
Williamson never lets his viewers suffer through unnecessary and long-drawn-out scenes, even when the show’s rapid speed makes specific scenarios feel overly outlandish.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
19 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Needless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/needless. Accessed 1 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share