needless

adjective

need·​less ˈnēd-ləs How to pronounce needless (audio)
: not needed : unnecessary
needless waste
needlessly adverb
needlessness noun
Phrases
needless to say
: as is self-evident or to be expected

Examples of needless in a Sentence

needless expenditures that pushed the construction project way over budget
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
And needless to say, that's been a difficult reality to come to terms with. Symiah Dorsey, Southern Living, 2 Apr. 2025 Plus, taking action after a test can sometimes lead to unnecessary follow-up testing, as well as needless spending and anxiety. Kristen Fischer, Health, 14 Mar. 2025 The Boston Celtics are, needless to say, the reigning NBA champions, and thus the path to the title by definition has to go through them first. Morten Stig Jensen, Forbes, 14 Mar. 2025 Besides the hefty price tag – which can range between $1,000 and $3,000 and isn’t covered by most insurance – Kenney said the scan may induce needless anxiety by detecting things that aren’t necessarily dangerous. Adrianna Rodriguez, USA TODAY, 12 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for needless

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of needless was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Needless.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/needless. Accessed 18 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

needless

adjective
need·​less ˈnēd-ləs How to pronounce needless (audio)
needlessly adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on needless

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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