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 needlessly

Contemporary Examples

All of those who are positive have now needlessly spread the virus to countless others.
This New Ebola Test Is As Easy As a Pregnancy Test, So Why Aren’t We Using It?
Abby Haglage
October 3, 2014
Conflation of the words “intervention” and “invasion” needlessly stymie debate.
Why Drones Don’t Cut It in Syria
Robert Caruso
September 24, 2014
It's not all useless back surgery and unnecessary appendectomies and needlessly prolonging Grandma's death throes.
The Reality of Death Panels
Megan McArdle
October 31, 2012
Never has such a strong political hand been so needlessly, carelessly, calamitously thrown away.
Simon Schama on How Obama Threw It All Away in the Denver Debate
Simon Schama
October 5, 2012
The last two sentences quoted above seem to me needlessly bogey-hunting.
David's Book Club: What Are Liberals Thinking?
David Frum
July 13, 2012

Historical Examples

His mother, Mrs. Goddard of Madison Square, was not needlessly alarmed.
Melomaniacs
James Huneker
He will say nothing to hurt me needlessly; nor is it in his nature to do so.
The Fortunes Of Glencore
Charles James Lever
The adverbial adjective "needlessly" explains the broad distinction.
Shoulder-Straps
Henry Morford
I want you to convince him of this, and to beg him not to spend money so needlessly.
Doctor Luttrell's First Patient
Rosa Nouchette Carey
Luther, who did not comprehend his motive, was needlessly angry.
Short Studies on Great Subjects
James Anthony Froude

British Dictionary definitions for needlessly

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 needlessly

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 needlessly

Contemporary Examples

All of those who are positive have now needlessly spread the virus to countless others.

Conflation of the words “intervention” and “invasion” needlessly stymie debate.

It's not all useless back surgery and unnecessary appendectomies and needlessly prolonging Grandma's death throes.

Never has such a strong political hand been so needlessly, carelessly, calamitously thrown away.

The last two sentences quoted above seem to me needlessly bogey-hunting.

Historical Examples

His mother, Mrs. Goddard of Madison Square, was not needlessly alarmed.

He will say nothing to hurt me needlessly; nor is it in his nature to do so.

The adverbial adjective "needlessly" explains the broad distinction.

I want you to convince him of this, and to beg him not to spend money so needlessly.

Luther, who did not comprehend his motive, was needlessly angry.

needless

Word Origin and History for needlessly

needless

adj.

Origin of needless