as in extra
being over what is needed
cleared off all the superfluous stuff on his desk to make room for the new computer
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 superfluous
The Dow tumbled more than 800 points on Monday, in large part because of a Substack post from Citrini Research that laid out hypothetical scenarios for how developments in AI could disrupt certain parts of the economy, including AI agents making white-collar work superfluous.
—
Auzinea Bacon, CNN Money, 28 Feb. 2026
New clinics in Broward County will be superfluous, costly and ultimately paid for by patients.
—Arthur E. Palamara, Sun Sentinel, 22 Feb. 2026
But stripped of all superfluous details, this season’s ballerina wedges are, for now, sticking to an ultraminimalist approach.
—Héloïse Salessy, Glamour, 21 Feb. 2026
My small room seemed to be visibly clouded by the stink of my body and the stink of my superfluous thinking.
—Literary Hub, 17 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for superfluous
Auzinea Bacon, CNN Money, 28 Feb. 2026
New clinics in Broward County will be superfluous, costly and ultimately paid for by patients.
—Arthur E. Palamara, Sun Sentinel, 22 Feb. 2026
But stripped of all superfluous details, this season’s ballerina wedges are, for now, sticking to an ultraminimalist approach.
—Héloïse Salessy, Glamour, 21 Feb. 2026
My small room seemed to be visibly clouded by the stink of my body and the stink of my superfluous thinking.
—Literary Hub, 17 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for superfluous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for superfluous
Adjective
-
Philadelphia took advantage of extra chances early, notching 10 second-chance points in the opening frame.—
Jason Beede,
The Orlando Sentinel,
16 Apr. 2026
-
News of the ocean liner’s peril was carved into a late, extra edition of the Tribune on April 15, 1912, and much of the account was devoted to the prominent people aboard.—
Kori Rumore,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Drain and rinse the quinoa and shake off excess water.—
Kelly McCarthy,
ABC News,
16 Apr. 2026
-
But then suddenly after a winter of heavy rain followed by hot weather, long-dormant pathogenic fungi suddenly come to life due to excess water in the root zone and bring about the tree’s demise.—
Joshua Siskin,
Oc Register,
16 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Michlewitz said Wednesday that for the past two years, after the surplus surtax supplemental budgets, transportation initiatives have actually received more funding in total, even though education programs get more surtax funding through the general budget each year.—
State House News Service,
Boston Herald,
15 Apr. 2026
-
The proposal to declare the surplus property was discussed as a special board meeting April 13.—
Fousia Abdullahi,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Bohm, who erected a shrine to the baseball gods using spare bats in an empty locker adjacent to his, just embodies the frustration.—
Matt Gelb,
New York Times,
15 Apr. 2026
-
The reason the Iran war has been so disruptive, Pouyanné said, is that there is zero spare capacity in the fossil fuel supply chain.—
Tim McDonnell,
semafor.com,
14 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The marketers generated doctors’ orders for the unnecessary medical equipment by using telemedicine companies, many of which were written by doctors who did not have a pre-existing relationship with the beneficiaries or who were not treating them, the indictment said.—
Angie DiMichele,
Sun Sentinel,
14 Apr. 2026
-
After the crashes, some passengers had even gotten unnecessary surgeries, encouraged by lawyers who told them that going under the knife would result in a higher settlement.—
David Remnick,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Superfluous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/superfluous. Accessed 21 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
