as in unnecessary
not needed by the circumstances or to accomplish an end
money's tight, so we'll have to skip nonessential purchases
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in extravagance
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
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 nonessential
Sarah Fortinsky, The Hill, 19 June 2025
Residents are also advised to avoid equipment and nonessential activities that may increase ignition risks.
—Hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 June 2025
Start small: Decline one nonessential meeting this week.
—Tinna Jackson, Forbes.com, 24 June 2025
Preparations for a possible Iranian attack began earlier this month, when the State Department ordered all nonessential personnel to leave its embassy in Baghdad.
—Shelby Talcott, semafor.com, 22 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for nonessential
Noun
The State Department has begun evacuating nonessential government personnel and their families from Israel, as the conflict with Iran heats up and President Trump weighs greater U.S. involvement.
—Sarah Fortinsky, The Hill, 19 June 2025
Residents are also advised to avoid equipment and nonessential activities that may increase ignition risks.
—Hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 June 2025
Start small: Decline one nonessential meeting this week.
—Tinna Jackson, Forbes.com, 24 June 2025
Preparations for a possible Iranian attack began earlier this month, when the State Department ordered all nonessential personnel to leave its embassy in Baghdad.
—Shelby Talcott, semafor.com, 22 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for nonessential
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nonessential
Adjective
-
From sky-high heels and stiff business attire to bulky belts and even barefoot passengers (yes, that happens), these in-flight missteps can lead to unnecessary discomfort—or worse, a hygiene horror story.—
Rosie Marder,
Travel + Leisure,
25 July 2025
-
Simple but crucial resilience improvements — such as raising street levels to prevent flooding or installing solar panels — face cumbersome and unnecessary review.—
Richard Buery,
New York Daily News,
24 July 2025
Noun
-
Yet now White House officials and other critics of the project are pointing to the marble as a sign of extravagance.—
Christopher Rugaber,
Chicago Tribune,
18 July 2025
-
Jerome Powell defended the Federal Reserve’s D.C. headquarters renovations in a detailed response to White House budget director Russ Vought, rejecting claims of extravagance and reaffirming that all work follows historic preservation and accessibility standards.—
Eleanor Pringle,
Fortune,
18 July 2025
Noun
-
Since the first official World Series in 1903 – which the Red Sox won, by the way – there have been 67 Fall Classic contests have gone to extras, including eight with the Red Sox (5-3).—
Gabrielle Starr,
Boston Herald,
18 July 2025
-
The production created 1,233 jobs, used 2,628 local extras, supported 441 local businesses and delivered $43.6 million in local wages.—
Jill Goldsmith,
Deadline,
16 July 2025
Noun
-
After which, see its superfluity yet again relative to market entities that have long and capably filled central bank functions of providing near-term liquidity to the solvent, along with regulation to ensure sound operation based on those loans.—
John Tamny,
Forbes.com,
6 July 2025
-
The images aren’t only stripped of superfluities; they’re hermetically sealed off from anything that could impinge from offscreen ...—
Tim Lammers,
Forbes,
25 Dec. 2024
Noun
-
From luxury retail to energy infrastructure, food service to consumer goods, the common thread is clear: The right technology, implemented thoughtfully, can transform challenges into opportunities.—
Lori Thomas,
Forbes.com,
24 July 2025
-
Nothing says comfort and luxury like a fully carpeted living room, but while the warmth and coziness were real, so were the drawbacks.—
Sophie Flaxman,
Better Homes & Gardens,
24 July 2025
Noun
-
The Fiscal Inversion of Luxury Where most governments slap excise taxes on luxury goods to extract value from indulgence and use ability to pay as a stand-in for progressivity in taxation, Sweden took the exact opposite route.—
Andrew Leahey,
Forbes.com,
12 July 2025
-
Austin's Tarrytown neighborhood has a new spot for frozen indulgence: Zeds, an ice cream shop bringing a taste of New Zealand to 2727 Exposition Blvd #128.—
Ana Gutierrez,
Austin American Statesman,
2 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Nonessential.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nonessential. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share