as in extra
not needed by the circumstances or to accomplish an end
that large suitcase is unnecessary—we are only going to be away for a couple of days
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of unnecessary
Map out your must-see spots geographically and group them by proximity to avoid unnecessary backtracking.
—
Lauren Schuster, Miami Herald, 10 Mar. 2026
Depletion of munitions for this unnecessary war is a real problem.
—Nicholas D. Kristof, Mercury News, 10 Mar. 2026
This unnecessary crackdown is not only disrupting people’s livelihoods, but could further slow deliveries and drive up the cost of products that are delivered by tractor trailer.
—The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 10 Mar. 2026
Remove unnecessary items from your car.
—Sacbee.com, 10 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unnecessary
Lauren Schuster, Miami Herald, 10 Mar. 2026
Depletion of munitions for this unnecessary war is a real problem.
—Nicholas D. Kristof, Mercury News, 10 Mar. 2026
This unnecessary crackdown is not only disrupting people’s livelihoods, but could further slow deliveries and drive up the cost of products that are delivered by tractor trailer.
—The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 10 Mar. 2026
Remove unnecessary items from your car.
—Sacbee.com, 10 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unnecessary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unnecessary
Adjective
-
Surcharges to cover rising fuel costs can't be added retroactively to existing bookings—so travelers who have purchased their airfares shouldn't worry about getting hit with extra fees.—
Jessica Puckett,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 Mar. 2026
-
Juegoal Window Hummingbird Feeder Window hummingbird feeders are an extra-fun way to watch the birds at home, attracting hummers for an up-close view.—
Caley Sturgill,
Southern Living,
11 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The question box includes a space for your name, but this is optional.—
Carolyn Hax,
Washington Post,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Casali also incorporated features from bigger models, such as the foredeck lounge and an optional drop-down aft platform.—
Rachel Cormack,
Robb Report,
9 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Which seems like the anxiety Chalamet was trying to express with his needless opera bashing.—
Bethy Squires,
Vulture,
12 Mar. 2026
-
Trusting the reader trims needless words.—
Jasna Hodžić,
Big Think,
10 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Yet some in Iran say the supreme leader as irrelevant.—
Ramin Mostaghim,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Mar. 2026
-
The invention of electricity made menial jobs like the lamplighter, the elevator operator, and the knocker-up, the human equivalent to the modern alarm clock, irrelevant.—
Jake Angelo,
Fortune,
6 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Level 3 advises travelers to reconsider nonessential travel, and Level 4 recommends avoiding travel altogether.—
Katia Hetter,
CNN Money,
11 Mar. 2026
-
Governors in eight states and several major cities had declared states of emergency, and at the height of the storm, bans on nonessential travel were in place for New Jersey, the New York City area and parts of Massachusetts.—
Elyssa Kaufman,
CBS News,
24 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Any concerns about 11-time Pro Bowler Travis Kelce’s career continuing with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2026 were apparently unwarranted.—
Chantz Martin,
FOXNews.com,
12 Mar. 2026
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But those fears are unwarranted, according to Jennifer Cady, Minnesota Power’s vice president of external affairs.—
Peter Passi,
Twin Cities,
3 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Both companies say their aircraft are built with multiple redundant systems to protect passengers if something fails.—
Christopher Harris,
CBS News,
12 Mar. 2026
-
In the end, such planning was rendered redundant by a combination of VAR and slick Chelsea play in extra time, leaving Wrexham to focus on perhaps making this fixture an annual event in the Premier League.—
Richard Sutcliffe,
New York Times,
8 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Many people are trying to protect themselves from becoming dispensable as the role of AI expands in the workplace, said Erik Brynjolfsson, an economics professor at Stanford University and the director of the Stanford Digital Economy Lab.—
Annie Nova,
CNBC,
25 Feb. 2026
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In any case, in the first heat of their serious adventures with men, female friends seemed dispensable.—
Tessa Hadley,
New Yorker,
25 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Unnecessary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unnecessary. Accessed 16 Mar. 2026.
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