unnecessary
adjective
\
Definition of unnecessary
Keep scrolling for more
Synonyms & Antonyms for unnecessary
Synonyms
dispensable, gratuitous, inessential, needless, nonessential, uncalled-for, unessential, unwarranted
Antonyms
essential, indispensable, necessary, needed, needful, required
Visit the Thesaurus for More
Examples of unnecessary in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Graciano Caicedo, a leader of the Yurumanguà river community, claims that a return to a way of life that pre-dates white settlement would make hospitals unnecessary. — The Economist, "Why Colombia’s Pacific coast is so poor," 29 Aug. 2019 He was diagnosed with a contusion and X-rays were unnecessary. — Julian Mcwilliams, BostonGlobe.com, "David Price throws a three-inning simulated game," 27 Aug. 2019 President Donald Trump has downplayed such fears, saying on Wednesday that further tax cuts are unnecessary because the economy remains strong. — Stephen Gandel, CBS News, "Fading corporate profits heighten U.S. recession fears," 22 Aug. 2019 The Flores Agreement, as the 1997 settlement is known, also requires the government to release children from immigration detention without unnecessary delay to their parents, other adults or licensed programs. — Jen Christensen And Michael Nedelman, CNN, "Doctors describe black box of medical care in detention facilities: 'That is not medical care. That's malpractice'," 2 July 2019 The inspector general opened an investigation and, last July, issued an interim report that indicated serious bias against Matias and an unnecessary delay in finding a permanent home for his children. — Melissa Sanchez, ProPublica, "For generations, Illinois’ child welfare agency has failed to adequately serve Spanish-speaking families with children in its care.," 20 June 2019 Part of the solution may be to reduce unnecessary police contact in the first place, Sewell said. — Los Angeles Times, "Getting killed by police is a leading cause of death for young black men in America," 16 Aug. 2019 The prose is dense, occasionally impenetrable, with chewy passages that can feel, in the moment, like unnecessary discursions, though most prove essential by the story’s fateful finale. — Barbara Vandenburgh, USA TODAY, "Téa Obreht follows up 'The Tiger's Wife' with 'Inland' a haunted, fantastical Western," 13 Aug. 2019 Introduced in Maryland, the goal is to encourage providers to seek alternative treatments such as preventive care to reduce what may be unnecessary spending. — Chris Sikich, Indianapolis Star, "Here's how Pete Buttigieg would improve rural health care," 9 Aug. 2019These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'unnecessary.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Keep scrolling for more
Keep scrolling for more
More Definitions for unnecessary
unnecessary
adjective
English Language Learners Definition of unnecessary
See the full definition for unnecessary in the English Language Learners Dictionary
unnecessary
adjective
\
Kids Definition of unnecessary
Keep scrolling for more