as in extra
being over what is needed
cleared off all the superfluous stuff on his desk to make room for the new computer
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Recent Examples of superfluous
After sorting out the logistics of subletting my NYC apartment, tossing superfluous possessions in storage, and lining up sufficient freelance remote work, my administrative ducks were in a row.
—
Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 29 Aug. 2025
There are no superfluous back flips or one-piece glittery bodysuits or flashy theatrics.
—Britt Julious, Chicago Tribune, 22 Aug. 2025
Bieber’s indigo-wash pair is unfussy—sans distracting seams or superfluous pockets like the carpenter styles that have been so popular over the past few seasons—giving them a streamlined look that is perfectly aligned with Bieber’s minimalist Angeleno style.
—Sam Reed, Glamour, 21 Aug. 2025
Many who fear the advancement of technology also worry that with each advancement comes a loss of knowledge or skills: with calculators, learning math feels superfluous; with typing, good handwriting becomes a relic of the past; with transportation technology, bodies seem to atrophy.
—Literary Hub, 26 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for superfluous
Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 29 Aug. 2025
There are no superfluous back flips or one-piece glittery bodysuits or flashy theatrics.
—Britt Julious, Chicago Tribune, 22 Aug. 2025
Bieber’s indigo-wash pair is unfussy—sans distracting seams or superfluous pockets like the carpenter styles that have been so popular over the past few seasons—giving them a streamlined look that is perfectly aligned with Bieber’s minimalist Angeleno style.
—Sam Reed, Glamour, 21 Aug. 2025
Many who fear the advancement of technology also worry that with each advancement comes a loss of knowledge or skills: with calculators, learning math feels superfluous; with typing, good handwriting becomes a relic of the past; with transportation technology, bodies seem to atrophy.
—Literary Hub, 26 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for superfluous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for superfluous
Adjective
-
The 40th release, however, marks the first time the brand has ever released a tequila—an extra añejo blend put together by a leading name in the agave spirits industry.—
Jonah Flicker,
Robb Report,
5 Nov. 2025
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However, that extra year of security is likely what Bader is looking for after declining the option.—
Aaliyan Mohammed,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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By contrast, the new project—bankrolled by Big Tech firms and crypto moguls—is one of excess and self-advertisement.—
Adam Gopnik,
New Yorker,
25 Oct. 2025
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While monthly payments tend to be lower, leases come with mileage limits — usually 10,000 to 15,000 miles per year — and may include fees for excess wear or mileage.—
Mike Winters,
CNBC,
24 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
What stays with us is a sense not of impersonation but of surplus feeling.—
Adam Gopnik,
New Yorker,
20 Oct. 2025
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And finally, eliminating a requirement for surplus parking spaces allows more compact, efficient forms of development, which results in more walkable cities and more connected neighborhoods.—
Stefan Chavez-Norgaard,
The Conversation,
16 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Turn on music or a podcast and fill a few spare minutes wiping down surfaces, dusting, or putting things away.—
Kelsey Mulvey,
Southern Living,
31 Oct. 2025
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Their No 10s play close to Mateta and help to overload the defence — which is why Munoz and Mitchell can end up as the spare player at the back post — but rarely make incisive runs in the half-space to create cutbacks, in the move which Manchester City used so well to break down low blocks.—
Liam Tharme,
New York Times,
31 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
For the monks or clerics, it is presented as a material substance, carried like a sack of gold on the demon’s back; the metaphors used are monetary or economic, as though the monks owe ordered syllables to God instead of the monetary tithe their vows of poverty render unnecessary.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
31 Oct. 2025
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The wrong one can create confusion, lead to notification overload, and add unnecessary complexity to the workday.—
Rebecca Lazar,
Miami Herald,
31 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Superfluous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/superfluous. Accessed 6 Nov. 2025.
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