as in unnecessary
not needed by the circumstances or to accomplish an end
needless expenditures that pushed the construction project way over budget
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Recent Examples of needless
Taking time to do the inner work of self-reflection shouldn’t be seen as some burden or needless activity that will slow you down.
—
Albert Kim, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2025
Creating conditions that have led to possible mass starvation after bringing about tens of thousands of needless deaths should be the last straw.
—Newsweek Staff, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 July 2025
The first episode premiered earlier today and, needless to say, it was filled with drama.
—Breanne L. Heldman, People.com, 14 July 2025
Advertisement Far from marking a needless escalation, this week’s strikes degrading Iran’s nuclear capabilities represent a step closer to peace and prosperity for the U.S., the Middle East, and the world.
—Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Time, 22 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for needless
Albert Kim, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2025
Creating conditions that have led to possible mass starvation after bringing about tens of thousands of needless deaths should be the last straw.
—Newsweek Staff, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 July 2025
The first episode premiered earlier today and, needless to say, it was filled with drama.
—Breanne L. Heldman, People.com, 14 July 2025
Advertisement Far from marking a needless escalation, this week’s strikes degrading Iran’s nuclear capabilities represent a step closer to peace and prosperity for the U.S., the Middle East, and the world.
—Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Time, 22 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for needless
Recent Examples of Synonyms for needless
unnecessary
Adjective
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Brown dropped an easy pass, then also failed to get upfield on a different third-down throw that put the offense in an unnecessary fourth-down situation.—
Jesse Newell,
New York Times,
6 Sep. 2025
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If only the series had more faith in its viewers to appreciate that vision without the unnecessary noise of a biker gang spinning its wheels.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
5 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Needless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/needless. Accessed 8 Sep. 2025.
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