Unnecessary
Definition, Meaning & Examples
Pronunciation /ʌnˈnɛs.ə.s(ə)ɹɪ/ · Part of speech adjective
Quick meaning: Unnecessary is an adjective meaning Not needed or necessary.
Meaning
Not needed or necessary.
More Meanings
- Done in addition to requirements; unrequired.
Example Sentences
The automatic child-frightener made clowns unnecessary.
Every possible economy was carefully investigated and unnecessary expense, however small, eliminated. The company had no money to spare on "frills."
Yet some of the statin side effects mentioned in the study have not been proved in the scientific literature or are exaggerated and could cause unnecessary worry, he said.
Robins, of Torquay, had denied a single charge of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal. She claimed the microwave was accidentally turned on by one of the cats after the kitten got inside. But Knutton said the kitten was too small to even get onto the work surface.
Synonyms for unnecessary
Depending on context, synonyms include superfluous, needless, innecessary, additional, gratuitous, redundant.
Antonyms for unnecessary
Common opposites include necessary, needed, required, mandatory.
Related Words
Related dictionary entries include needless, inessential, uncalled-for, gratuitous, spare, redundant.
Related Dictionary Tools
Sources & Attribution
FreeDictionaryAPI.com / Wiktionary · Original source · CC BY-SA 4.0
Dictionary data is provided by FreeDictionaryAPI.com and sourced from Wiktionary under its stated license.