needless

[need-lis]

See more synonyms for needless on Thesaurus.com

adjective

unnecessary; not needed or wanted: a needless waste of food.

Origin of needless

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

Related formsneed·less·ly, adverbneed·less·ness, noun

Synonyms

See more synonyms for needless on Thesaurus.com

unessential, gratuitous, pointless, uncalled-for.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for needless

Contemporary Examples

His Oxford shirts and matching boxers are, needless to say, woven.
The Photographer Who Gave Up Manhattan for Marrakech
Liza Foreman
January 6, 2015
Needless to say, Juxiao was thrilled to see them and gave each of them a lot of love and affection.
‘Sexual’ Barbershop Quartet, a Panda Family Reunion, and More Viral Videos
The Daily Beast Video
December 14, 2014
Needless to say, this does not enamor her to the powers that be in Cameroon.
The Straight Hero of Cameroon’s Gays
Jay Michaelson
December 10, 2014
Needless to say, Howie disagrees with that characterization.
South Dakota's Bizarre Four-Way (Senate Election, That Is)
Ben Jacobs
October 15, 2014
Needless to say, scheduling major events on the Jewish High Holidays does nothing to assuage those concerns.
Klutzy Conservative Jewish Outreach at the Values Voter Summit
Ben Jacobs
September 24, 2014

Historical Examples

It is needless to say that Sack is the wine preferred by him.
Punchinello, Vol. 1. No. 20, August 13, 1870
Various
But it is needless to complete the query; the answer alone is important.
De Libris: Prose and Verse
Austin Dobson
Needless to say, it was "not equal to Mr. Handel's oratorio of Esther or Deborah."
Handel
Edward J. Dent
It is needless to say that he won; and the cake duly came back to him.
Camps, Quarters and Casual Places
Archibald Forbes
My relations it is needless to mention; they will of course be amply provided for.
The Life of Horatio Lord Nelson
Robert Southey

British Dictionary definitions for needless

needless

adjective

not required or desired; unnecessary

Derived Formsneedlessly, adverbneedlessness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for needless

adj.

c.1300, "not needed, unnecessary," from need (n) + -less. Related: Needlessly. Phrase needless to say or speak is recorded from early 16c.

needless

Origin of .css-1fxfie5{font-size:22px;}@media (max-width:768px){.css-1fxfie5{font-size:18px;margin:0 10px 10px 0;word-break:break-all;word-wrap:break-word;-webkit-hyphens:auto;-moz-hyphens:auto;-ms-hyphens:auto;hyphens:auto;line-height:22px;}}needless

Synonyms

Examples from the Web for needless

Contemporary Examples

His Oxford shirts and matching boxers are, needless to say, woven.

Needless to say, Juxiao was thrilled to see them and gave each of them a lot of love and affection.

Needless to say, this does not enamor her to the powers that be in Cameroon.

Needless to say, Howie disagrees with that characterization.

Needless to say, scheduling major events on the Jewish High Holidays does nothing to assuage those concerns.

Historical Examples

It is needless to say that Sack is the wine preferred by him.

But it is needless to complete the query; the answer alone is important.

Needless to say, it was "not equal to Mr. Handel's oratorio of Esther or Deborah."

It is needless to say that he won; and the cake duly came back to him.

My relations it is needless to mention; they will of course be amply provided for.

needless

Word Origin and History for needless

adj.

Origin of needless