needless

[need-lis]

adjective

1. unnecessary; not needed or wanted.

   a needless waste of food.

   Synonyms: uncalled-for, pointless, gratuitous, unessential

needless

/ ˈniːdlɪs /

adjective

1. not required or desired; unnecessary

Other Word Forms

• needlessly adverb
• needlessness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of needless¹

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

Example Sentences

Three needless run outs did not help and where the 375 they were on course for might have been a winning total, the 338 all out they ended up with most certainly was not.

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"Time and again we offer Putin the chance to end his needless invasion, to stop the killing and recall his troops, but he repeatedly rejects those proposals and any chance of peace," Sir Keir said.

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He announced that he would immediately halt all counter-narcotics aid payments to Colombia — which seems counterproductive — and, needless to say, he also vowed to raise tariffs.

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Chancellor Rachel Reeves has said she plans to scrap "needless form filling" in a bid to boost business growth.

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Plus, he said the freeway closure is a source of needless financial strain.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• excessive 
• gratuitous 
• pointless