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Synonyms

needless

American  
[need-lis] / ˈnid lɪs /

adjective

  1. unnecessary; not needed or wanted.

    a needless waste of food.
    Synonyms:
    uncalled-for, pointless, gratuitous, unessential
needless British  
/ ˈniːdlɪs /

adjective

  1. not required or desired; unnecessary

"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

Other Word Forms

  • needlessly adverb
  • needlessness noun

Etymology

Origin of needless

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

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.

Characters on “The Pitt” and “St. Denis Medical” contend with similar frustrations, demonstrating that needless bureaucracy is bad for everybody’s health.

From Salon • Feb. 26, 2026

Determining the points at which past Fed chairs became lame ducks is not an exact science, needless to say.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 19, 2026

Doing the same in the U.S. would end needless bureaucracy and a potpourri of repayment plans and provide a safety net for struggling borrowers facing unemployment or health shocks.

From Barron's • Feb. 10, 2026

Jane and Steve James said they were "haunted and totally devastated" by the "needless death" of their eldest child in 2020.

From BBC • Feb. 9, 2026

Pippin trembled, fearing that Gandalf would be stung to sudden wrath, but his fear was needless.

From "The Return of the King" by J.R.R. Tolkien

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.