needless

[ need-lis ]

adjective

1. unnecessary; not needed or wanted:

   a needless waste of food.

   Synonyms: uncalled-for, pointless, gratuitous, unessential

needless

/ ˈniːdlɪs /

adjective

1. not required or desired; unnecessary

Derived Forms

• ˈneedlessly, adverb
• ˈneedlessness, noun

Other Words From

• needless·ly adverb
• needless·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of needless¹

First recorded in 1175–1225, needless is from the Middle English word nedles. See need, -less

Example Sentences

None of this, needless to say, is normal.

From Salon

To follow Harris’ expression of sorrow for her loss with “...But do you want to answer her?” is needless grandstanding, not fact-finding pressure.

From Salon

He must surely know by now - but this needless dallying around the edge of the subject is now becoming faintly farcical.

From BBC

It was, needless to say, a bet that paid off, and today we live in the world that DC — and Marvel — made.

From Los Angeles Times

“A continued failure of governments to meet their moral obligations to protect and care for their people, as this paper shows, will doom millions of people to needless deaths.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• excessive
• gratuitous
• pointless