nonessential 1 of 2

adjective

ˌnän-i-ˈsen(t)-shəl How to pronounce nonessential (audio)
Definition of nonessentialnext
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

nonessential

2 of 2

noun

as in extravagance

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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 nonessential
Adjective
On March 19, 2020, California issued a statewide order directing people to stay at home and all nonessential businesses to close. — Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 6 Aug. 2026 The agency currently has no active Level 4 travel health notices, but does warn against nonessential travel to parts of the Democratic Republic of the Congo due to an outbreak of Ebola there. — Michael Cappetta, Travel + Leisure, 28 July 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
  1. unnecessary
  2. extravagance
  3. extra
  4. superfluity
  5. luxury
  6. indulgence
Adjective
  • Using public warnings to create concern among subscribers is an unnecessary pressure tactic.
    — Michael Schneider, Variety, 1 Oct. 2026
  • The point is to allow young people to enter the workforce more quickly, avoid unnecessary costs, and continue accumulating skills over time.
    — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of unnecessary
Noun
  • The beachside Kayuputi restaurant is easily one of the island’s best, offering extravagances like wagyu beef carpaccio and Sturia caviar.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Fernández hoped that seeing the extravagance of a pre-conquest world and hearing the poetic nature of the Nahuatl language helps to empower Latinos to feel pride in and learn more about their culture.
    — Carlos De Loera, Los Angeles Times, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of extravagance
Noun
  • One notable extra is that the specs give IP ratings for dust and water resistance, which few projectors offer, and can give you a little peace of mind for outdoor use.
    — M. David Stone, PC Magazine, 4 Oct. 2026
  • Use it as a candy bowl or for snacks like puppy chow, cookies, and other finger foods to add a decorative touch to your countertop spread, then cover it with the lid to store any extras.
    — Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of extra
Noun
  • The gap between the two suggests a superfluity that has long dogged the business.
    — John Semley, Harpers Magazine, 28 July 2026
  • So there was either a superfluity of honest Dublin women back in the day or a manager who moved around.
    — Anne Enright, New Yorker, 1 June 2026
Definition of superfluity
Noun
  • Chivayo's Rolls-Royces, private aircraft, designer shoes, luxury watches, shopping trips abroad and multimillion-dollar gifts were a constant presence on social media, while his relationships with presidents gave him visibility far beyond Zimbabwe.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Located 20 minutes from the airport, in an area of Bali increasingly dominated by luxury tourism, Jimbaran Bay has maintained its high quality—in service and facilities alike—for three decades.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of luxury
Noun
  • The show only exists because McConaughey and Harrelson decided to make it, and whatever passion, knowledge, grit, and hustle was needed to turn a celebrity indulgence into scripted entertainment is undetectable in the final product.
    — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 23 Sep. 2026
  • Lindsay Bryan-Podvin, a financial therapist and host of the Mind Money Balance podcast, explained that such indulgences can offer a predictable moment of control when so much else feels uncertain.
    — Tatiana Sataua, Fortune, 20 Sep. 2026
Definition of indulgence

Browse Nearby Words

nonerotic
nonessential
nonessentials
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Nonessential.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nonessential. Accessed 5 Oct. 2026.

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