needless

American  

[need-lis] / ˈnid lɪs /

adjective

1. unnecessary; not needed or wanted.

   a needless waste of food.

   Synonyms:

   uncalled-for, pointless, gratuitous, unessential

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needless British  

/ ˈniːdlɪs /

adjective

1. not required or desired; unnecessary

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• needlessness
  noun
• needlessly
  adverb

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

While noting the threat of China's military build-up in the region, Hegseth also said the US wanted to avoid "needless confrontation".

From BBC • May 30, 2026

And banish this phrase—“You’re away,” the needless etiquette of having the player farthest from the hole hit first after tee shots and other shots approaching the green.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 9, 2026

The White House said that the changes were “not driven by the desire to increase tariff revenue,” but to “better align incentives to what we are trying to accomplish while reducing needless complexity.”

From Barron's • Apr. 2, 2026

There are no needless digressions, and their architecture is as robust and tightly engineered as their characters are fully fleshed.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 2, 2026

Good writers often use very long sentences, and they garnish them with words that are, strictly speaking, needless.

From "The Sense of Style" by Steven Pinker

Related Words

• excessive
• gratuitous
• pointless