as in unnecessary
not needed by the circumstances or to accomplish an end
don't pack any unessential items until we're sure we have room for everything we'll actually need
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Recent Examples of unessential
If no agreement occurs by September 30, the government will shut down all unessential services, ranging from air traffic controllers to staffers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) who monitor for disease outbreaks.
—
Fran Kritz, Verywell Health, 27 Sep. 2023
Their reunion doesn’t last long, as Sarah can’t keep away from the Pogue life, and through another tangle of unessential details, the whole crew comes together to discover the Cross of Santo Domingo in the ceiling of an old church.
—Lauren Puckett-Pope, ELLE, 22 Feb. 2023
Relegated to Marvel’s 1992 annual issues, Citizen Kang initially felt a little unessential.
—Joe George, Men's Health, 16 Feb. 2023
Each expert was hesitant about the current pandemic climate in Texas and the potential for increased spread through unessential activities.
—Callie Caplan, Dallas News, 12 Aug. 2020
See All Example Sentences for unessential
Fran Kritz, Verywell Health, 27 Sep. 2023
Their reunion doesn’t last long, as Sarah can’t keep away from the Pogue life, and through another tangle of unessential details, the whole crew comes together to discover the Cross of Santo Domingo in the ceiling of an old church.
—Lauren Puckett-Pope, ELLE, 22 Feb. 2023
Relegated to Marvel’s 1992 annual issues, Citizen Kang initially felt a little unessential.
—Joe George, Men's Health, 16 Feb. 2023
Each expert was hesitant about the current pandemic climate in Texas and the potential for increased spread through unessential activities.
—Callie Caplan, Dallas News, 12 Aug. 2020
See All Example Sentences for unessential
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unessential
unnecessary
Adjective
-
Most of the rest of the Middle East, in his mind, is broken, angry, dysfunctional and an arena for unnecessary entanglements.—
Tom O'Connor,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Oct. 2025
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Without a prenup, couples are forced to rely on the government during one of the most vulnerable times in their lives, often facing unnecessary financial strain while navigating outdated, bloated systems.—
Julia Rodgers,
Fortune,
3 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Unessential.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unessential. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
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