as in unnecessary
not needed by the circumstances or to accomplish an end
needless expenditures that pushed the construction project way over budget
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 needless
The dullard cousin of the repetition family is redundancy, that almost onomatopoeic term for needless recapitulation.
—
Namwali Serpell, The New Yorker, 8 Mar. 2025
The bizarre case of Luigi Mangione should also be considered a needless stain on Baltimore.
—Baltimore Sun Editorial Board, Baltimore Sun, 6 Mar. 2025
While the world is transfixed on America’s needless alienation of longtime American ally Ukraine, another American ally has come under fire from the administration.
—Wesley Alexander Hill, Forbes, 3 Mar. 2025
And needless to say, now that the new star is here, his way of business-going will permeate the entire roster.
—Tim Britton, The Athletic, 19 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for needless
Namwali Serpell, The New Yorker, 8 Mar. 2025
The bizarre case of Luigi Mangione should also be considered a needless stain on Baltimore.
—Baltimore Sun Editorial Board, Baltimore Sun, 6 Mar. 2025
While the world is transfixed on America’s needless alienation of longtime American ally Ukraine, another American ally has come under fire from the administration.
—Wesley Alexander Hill, Forbes, 3 Mar. 2025
And needless to say, now that the new star is here, his way of business-going will permeate the entire roster.
—Tim Britton, The Athletic, 19 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for needless
Cite this Entry
“Needless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/needless. Accessed 4 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share