as in unnecessary
not needed by the circumstances or to accomplish an end
money's tight, so we'll have to skip nonessential purchases
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in extravagance
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Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of nonessential
Sarah Fortinsky, The Hill, 2 Feb. 2026
Employees in nonessential positions are typically furloughed, but are also expected to receive backpay when funding for their agencies is restored.
—Caitlin Yilek, CBS News, 31 Jan. 2026
Caitlyn Kim, NPR, 30 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for nonessential
Adjective
The departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development (HUD) will also see their funding lapse, with much of the nonessential work slowing or stopping altogether.
—Sarah Fortinsky, The Hill, 2 Feb. 2026
Employees in nonessential positions are typically furloughed, but are also expected to receive backpay when funding for their agencies is restored.
—Caitlin Yilek, CBS News, 31 Jan. 2026
Noun
Anything deemed nonessential would be put on hold, so Americans could experience delays with certain services and hundreds of thousands of federal workers will go without pay.
—Caitlyn Kim, NPR, 30 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for nonessential
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nonessential
Adjective
-
For locals, these sheltered passages can also make surfacing almost unnecessary.—
Vivian Song,
CNN Money,
17 Feb. 2026
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But their efforts are not enough to save this unnecessary sequel that smacks of a cash grab.—
Frank Scheck,
HollywoodReporter,
16 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The quirky period drama is based on the life of Henry Cyril Paget, the dancing Marquess of Anglesey and a flamboyant peer whose behaviour and extravagance has modern echoes.—
Lily Ford,
HollywoodReporter,
17 Feb. 2026
-
Cocktails sit comfortably in the high teens and up, with a few outliers that lean hard into extravagance.—
Ana Gutierrez,
Austin American Statesman,
14 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
While the original Transporter is a cavernous duffel devoid of frills and features, the Squffel is overflowing with organizational extras.—
Drew Zieff,
Outside,
17 Feb. 2026
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And lately, there have been a lot of extras.—
Christopher Elliott,
USA Today,
17 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The 6,500-square-foot three-story contemporary is minimalist in decor but teeming with superfluities, including an elevator, a first-floor gym, a screening room, an infrared sauna and a master-bedroom walk-in closet bigger (and tidier) than my SoHo apartment.—
Tatiana Siegel,
Variety,
29 July 2025
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After which, see its superfluity yet again relative to market entities that have long and capably filled central bank functions of providing near-term liquidity to the solvent, along with regulation to ensure sound operation based on those loans.—
John Tamny,
Forbes.com,
6 July 2025
Noun
-
Osaka is seeing a spate of new luxury hotels, so the pressure on this one to stand out was intense.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
22 Feb. 2026
-
Lucy brought luxury to the island in the form of estates, family mansions, and a power plant.—
Kelsey Glennon,
Southern Living,
21 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Set along the Spree in Mitte with floor-to-ceiling windows and a reliably glamorous crowd, the restaurant blends classic steakhouse indulgence with contemporary art-world credibility.—
Melinda Sheckells,
HollywoodReporter,
13 Feb. 2026
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The menu brings classic steakhouse dishes served with indulgence and flair.—
USA TODAY NETWORK,
USA Today,
13 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Nonessential.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nonessential. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.
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