Synonyms of inessential

inessential

adjective

ˌi-nə-ˈsen(t)-shəl 

as in unnecessary

not needed by the circumstances or to accomplish an end

he writes very spare prose, with nary an inessential word to be found

Synonyms & Similar Words

• unnecessary
• nonessential
• extra
• unessential
• optional
• needless
• dispensable
• irrelevant
• gratuitous
• unwarranted
• redundant
• discretionary
• superfluous
• elective
• uncalled-for
• extraneous
• irrelative

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• essential
• necessary
• important
• required
• crucial
• needed
• vital
• indispensable
• needful
• urgent
• imperative
• all-important
• pressing

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of inessential

The new character forces viewers to make sense of a convoluted, ultimately inessential timeline of the reporting process; her point of entry into Lina’s life is especially confusing. —Judy Berman, TIME, 3 Sep. 2024

The commentary was no less inessential with the addition of Jimmy Fallon, who also has a show on NBC. —Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 12 Aug. 2024

Running a taxing three hours, this first part of a quartet of films is littered with inessential scenes and characters that go nowhere, taking far too long to connect its messy plot threads. —David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 19 May 2024

His standup act has favored proudly inessential observations about driving, dating and air travel — workaday zingers to which citizens of all political stripes are equally vulnerable. —Marc Tracy, New York Times, 4 May 2024