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
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
Like a sloppy writer adding superfluous words, other jacket companies often add doo-dads to their jackets that look good in marketing materials but make no difference in the performance.
—Jakob Schiller, Outside, 16 Feb. 2026
In the brightly billboarded carcass of a West Coast city, private security shields the corporate enclaves of a tech élite from the shantytowns of the economically superfluous.
—Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026
Clé de Peau Beauté Precious Gold Vitality Serum The gold in this serum’s name is not superfluous or simply a nod to the bottle’s luxe color.
—Tamim Alnuweiri, InStyle, 4 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for superfluous
Literary Hub, 17 Feb. 2026
Like a sloppy writer adding superfluous words, other jacket companies often add doo-dads to their jackets that look good in marketing materials but make no difference in the performance.
—Jakob Schiller, Outside, 16 Feb. 2026
In the brightly billboarded carcass of a West Coast city, private security shields the corporate enclaves of a tech élite from the shantytowns of the economically superfluous.
—Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026
Clé de Peau Beauté Precious Gold Vitality Serum The gold in this serum’s name is not superfluous or simply a nod to the bottle’s luxe color.
—Tamim Alnuweiri, InStyle, 4 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for superfluous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for superfluous
Adjective
-
These two teams ranked 31st and 32nd in the NHL on the power play at the Olympic break, but both clubs scored with the extra man in this one.—
Corey Masisak,
Denver Post,
26 Feb. 2026
-
The Celtics held Jokic to 4-of-11 shooting in the first quarter — with one of his makes coming on a tip-your-cap one-footed 3-pointer from the corner — but gifted Denver a handful of extra possessions through turnovers and offensive rebounds.—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
26 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
When that foundation is clean, balanced, and nourished, fine hair is less likely to struggle with excess oil, irritation, or breakage.—
Christa Joanna Lee,
Allure,
26 Feb. 2026
-
Once the greasy surface is thoroughly coated in a thin layer of oil, use a clean, soft cloth or fresh paper towel to buff the excess oil away.—
Lauren Landers,
The Spruce,
26 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The community-at-large also benefits from donations of surplus fresh produce, Lutticken said.—
Julie Gallant,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
25 Feb. 2026
-
Containers will need frequent watering, so set each pot up on bricks or pot feet to allow surplus water to drain away from your plants’ roots.—
Beth Botts,
Chicago Tribune,
21 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The pandemic—a period of isolation, stifled desire, and spare cash that would usually have been spent on night life—provided Fedorova with the opportunity for an introduction into fetish gear.—
Lillian Fishman,
New Yorker,
25 Feb. 2026
-
Both joined the Bulls for shootaround the morning of the deadline with at least five hours left to spare, and the medical team cleared Ivey to play that night.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Secretaries often try to summarize the high points of reports submitted to the board, but that is unnecessary since committee reports should be submitted in writing.—
Kelly G. Richardson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
24 Feb. 2026
-
Granted, some ceded ground is required in order to rebuild the story engine, but Season 2 still overindulges in comparably flat characters whose arcs are stuffed with unnecessary backstories and thin melodrama.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
23 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Superfluous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/superfluous. Accessed 3 Mar. 2026.
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