needlessly

Examples

• All

• Sure, thousands are dying needlessly, but this, that's got to stop.

  Evan Carmichael

• If he does nothing, scores and perhaps hundreds of persons may die needlessly and prematurely.

  Academic text (2004)

• But they worried needlessly that their work would, over time, lose its following.

  Academic text (2011)

• The rest of the device works fine, but is needlessly thrown away simply because electronic devices are not designed to last.

• It's unfortunate your stay here has been needlessly extended.

  Morgan (2016)

• You needlessly endangered this boat and its crew.

  K-19: The Widowmaker (2002)

• People who apply this cultural model to global climate change may become needlessly alarmed about the changes in store.

  Academic text (1997)

• As a result, their exploration and understanding of the musical world are needlessly curtailed.

  Academic text (1996)

• Don't worry yourself needlessly, Souther.

  Fear and Love: The Story of The Exorcist (2024)

• The rest of the device works fine, but is needlessly thrown away simply because electronic devices are not designed to last.

Synonyms

U

unnecessarily

vsneedlessly

48 3.7

Without a good reason

is the same idea focused on absence of necessity

U

unduly

vsneedlessly

21 6.9

More than is reasonable or necessary

means lack of need but without stressing excessiveness

G

gratuitously

vsneedlessly

5 7.9

In a way that has no good reason and is unnecessary

highlights absence of necessity rather than motive or cause

S

senselessly

vsneedlessly

4 6.0

In a way that has no good reason or purpose

is about not being needed rather than lacking meaning

P

pointlessly

vsneedlessly

4 4.3

In a way that has no purpose or use

refers specifically to absence of necessity rather than purposelessness

S

superfluously

vsneedlessly

1 8.1

Too much in a way that adds nothing useful

focuses on being unnecessary rather than merely excessive

M

meaninglessly

vsneedlessly

1 5.9

In a way that has no clear purpose or reason

relates to absence of need rather than absence of meaning

U

unwarrantably

vsneedlessly

9.9

In a way that has no good reason

emphasizes lack of need rather than lack of justification

Antonyms

J

justifiably

17 4.6

For a good reason that can be shown to be right

How Necessary

necessarily

∞ 3.7

usefully

5 1.1

needlessly

34 3.9

pointlessly

4 4.3

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology