needless
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of needless
First recorded in 1175–1225, needless is from the Middle English word nedles. See need, -less
Explanation
Something needless isn't required, necessary, or wanted. If you haven't touched that plastic back scratcher since Christmas 1992, it's probably needless. If your mom frets every time you walk out the door, you can assure her that it's needless worry — you'll be fine. And buying extremely pricey underwear might seem to be a needless expense — who cares how fancy your underwear is? Needless comes from need and its Old English root nied, "necessity."
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Anthropic’s October Usage Policy Update included a section prohibiting “sustained and needless abusive or cruel behavior toward our models.”
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 24, 2026
Gen. Rob Bonta held dueling news conferences Thursday, with each touting their efforts to crack down on medical providers accused of needless surgical procedures, sham addiction treatment program, bogus hospice care and other alleged schemes.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 23, 2026
Anthropic has raised eyebrows by announcing it will ban users from "sustained and needless" abusive behaviour towards its AI.
From BBC ● Oct. 9, 2026
The San Francisco-based AI lab updated its usage policy to include "a prohibition on sustained and needless abusive or cruel behavior toward our models."
From Barron's ● Oct. 8, 2026
‘Mr. Lome, needless to say the Observers will meet tonight. There are private decisions to be made before the mass meeting tomorrow at nine.’
From "Johnny Tremain" by Esther Hoskins Forbes
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
