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.
"Henry was far from the first to so needlessly lose his life, and I fear he won’t be the last."
From Barron's • Jun. 5, 2026
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
“Have you always been that way?” asked Milo impatiently, for he felt that that was a needlessly fine distinction.
From "The Phantom Tollbooth" by Norton Juster
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.
