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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of unnecessary
The wheels are in motion and just keep rolling downhill, causing so much unnecessary destruction.
—
Chicago Tribune, 24 July 2025
The new National Energy Dominance Council will help coordinate these efforts, and the Supreme Court's ruling can cut through unnecessary permitting bureaucracy.
—Mike Dunleavy, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 July 2025
There are zero unnecessary details on this simple pair of pants from Everlane.
—Jake Henry Smith, Glamour, 24 July 2025
The ending might seem pleasingly final, but watch for a predictable and quite unnecessary post-credits sting that sets up the Fantastic Four’s return with a cliffhanger and teases the return of a very familiar character.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 22 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for unnecessary
Chicago Tribune, 24 July 2025
The new National Energy Dominance Council will help coordinate these efforts, and the Supreme Court's ruling can cut through unnecessary permitting bureaucracy.
—Mike Dunleavy, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 July 2025
There are zero unnecessary details on this simple pair of pants from Everlane.
—Jake Henry Smith, Glamour, 24 July 2025
The ending might seem pleasingly final, but watch for a predictable and quite unnecessary post-credits sting that sets up the Fantastic Four’s return with a cliffhanger and teases the return of a very familiar character.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 22 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for unnecessary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unnecessary
Adjective
-
Hopefully, the extra rest over the All-Star break will help Clark get back to full health and on the court.—
Evan Massey,
MSNBC Newsweek,
20 July 2025
-
The former Notre Dame star transferred to TCU to try to improve her game, earn some extra NIL money and continue to grow her brand.—
Doug Feinberg,
Chicago Tribune,
19 July 2025
Adjective
-
Compliance isn’t optional—staying informed and ahead of any local or statewide regulations around rent control, evictions or other tenant rights is essential to operate responsibly and sustainably while avoiding costly legal issues.—
Nathan Miller,
Forbes.com,
15 July 2025
-
If breaks are optional, are short breaks ever paid?—
Tiffani Jackson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 July 2025
Adjective
-
The first episode premiered earlier today and, needless to say, it was filled with drama.—
Breanne L. Heldman,
People.com,
14 July 2025
-
Brandon Johnson, needless to say, now is Chicago mayor, having defeated Lightfoot in 2023.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
25 June 2025
Adjective
-
The rise of e-commerce, particularly Amazon, led to widespread belief that traditional big-box retailers would become irrelevant dinosaurs.—
Robert Daugherty,
Forbes.com,
16 July 2025
-
The judge ruled that evolution’s validity was irrelevant.—
Ron Grossman,
Chicago Tribune,
13 July 2025
Adjective
-
Yet consumers haven’t completely cut out spending on nonessential goods.—
Eleanor Pringle,
Fortune,
17 July 2025
-
Minnesota's new law will reduce, then eliminate, the manufacture and sale of nonessential PFAS products by 2032.—
Mark Strassmann
July 1,
CBS News,
1 July 2025
Adjective
-
An unwarranted threat Miami-Dade’s school district may prevent it.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
24 July 2025
-
Peralta’s head of operations, Greg Nelson, said in an interview that one of the new terms Marina did not agree with was a penalty for unwarranted use of force.—
Shomik Mukherjee,
Mercury News,
17 July 2025
Adjective
-
This improves knowledge sharing across teams and cuts down on redundant questions while giving comms teams insights into which topics need clearer messaging.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
15 July 2025
-
Headcount reductions have been carefully tailored to affect non-core functions, duplicative or redundant offices, and offices where considerable efficiencies may be found from centralization or consolidation of functions and responsibilities.—
Amanda Castro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 July 2025
Adjective
-
And the hierarchy must consider who else is dispensable and at what price.—
Henry Flynn,
Forbes.com,
16 May 2025
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To become a machine, after all, is to become usable and, perhaps, dispensable.—
James Poniewozik,
New York Times,
14 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Unnecessary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unnecessary. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.
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