needlessly
Americanadverb
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.
The White House and Vought’s office declined to comment, but the administration has argued the agency was needlessly aggressive and wasteful.
From Salon • Apr. 12, 2026
Additional rate increases in Canada “could needlessly deepen the economic pain,” Mendes said, adding that his firm predicts no rate change from the Bank of Canada this year.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 23, 2026
Wingtech representatives responded that the Dutch intervention was "incomprehensible" and meant the row "degenerated needlessly".
From Barron's • Feb. 11, 2026
Steve Smith from the Care4Calais aid charity said: "For too long, consecutive governments have dehumanised refugees, and Cranston is confirmation that it has needlessly cost lives."
From BBC • Feb. 5, 2026
“For being forgetful? For needlessly troubling the good people of lost and found? I wish they would. Did you get what you needed?”
From "Shadowshaper" by Daniel José Older
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.
