If you describe something as unnecessary, you mean that it is not needed or does not have to be done, and is undesirable.
The slaughter of whales is unnecessary and inhuman.
He accused Diana of making an unnecessary fuss.
Synonyms: needless, excessive, unwarranted, useless More Synonyms of unnecessary
unnecessarily (ʌnnesəserɪli)adverb [ADVERB with verb, ADVERB adjective]
I didn't want to upset my daughter unnecessarily.
A bad keyboard can make life unnecessarily difficult.
unnecessary in British English
(ʌnˈnɛsɪsərɪ, -ɪsrɪ)
adjective
not necessary
Derived forms
unnecessarily (unˈnecessarily)
adverb
unnecessariness (unˈnecessariness)
noun
unnecessary in American English
(ʌnˈnɛsəˌsɛri)
adjective
not necessary or required; needless
Derived forms
unnecessarily (unˌnecesˈsarily)
adverb
Examples of 'unnecessary' in a sentence
unnecessary
Why should we make them do unnecessary work?
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
They can be quite menacing and are totally unnecessary.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
This means many unnecessary deaths for British patients from treatable conditions.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
You'll please friends and avoid unnecessary calories at the same time.
The Sun (2017)
This could lead to 5,000 men a year avoiding unnecessary cancer treatment, he said.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
Our challenge is to find the significant harmful cancers while avoiding unnecessary harm to men by diagnosing or treating low-risk cancers that are not going to progress.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Would we feel relaxed about unnecessary deaths in custody because most policemen do a good job?
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Women are foolish to expose themselves to unnecessary risk.
The Sun (2008)
This odd ritual happens at regular intervals throughout the weekend and feels unnecessary and forced.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Would it make unnecessary the proper scrutiny by the press of public facts and filings?
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
They are completely unnecessary and talk far too much.
The Sun (2013)
Do not be cajoled into buying something totally unnecessary.
The Sun (2015)
What my family has been through in the last year is totally unnecessary.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Opt for cheap veg such as carrots and potatoes and plan meals carefully to avoid unnecessary expense.
The Sun (2014)
The regulation has also been blamed by an official inquiry for contributing to unnecessary hospital deaths.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Why are you running such unnecessary risks with a great relationship?
The Sun (2008)
The buses are cheap and efficient and make car hire unnecessary.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
It could have spared my wife much unnecessary suffering and indignity.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
The pity is that it was all completely unnecessary.
Thompkins, Peter, Bird, Christopher Secrets of the Soil (1990)
What about a totally unnecessary gadget for getting into a swimming pool?
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Health and education services would benefit from a commitment to avoid unnecessary complexity.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
How many more unnecessary deaths must we read of?
The Sun (2008)
This is not merely about making sure that investors are protected from unnecessary risk.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
And this requires controls that make opinions unnecessary.
Peter F. Drucker MANAGEMENT: task, responsibilities, practices (1974)
He pleaded guilty with diminished responsibility to causing an animal unnecessary suffering.
The Sun (2014)
The common theme to these controversies is that they were completely unnecessary.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
But it feels like an unnecessary political point for a series that already has so much going for it.
The Sun (2010)
This is avoidable and unnecessary suffering.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
A lengthy closing monologue feels particularly unnecessary.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Over dinner she would ask if we knew the tremendous amount of money being spent on battleships, foreign holidays or something else unnecessary.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
In other languages
unnecessary
British English: unnecessary /ʌnˈnɛsɪsərɪ; -ɪsrɪ/ ADJECTIVE
If you describe something as unnecessary, you mean that it is not needed or does not have to be done.
She was making an unnecessary fuss.
American English: unnecessary
Arabic: غَيْرُ ضَرُورِيّ
Brazilian Portuguese: desnecessário
Chinese: 不必要的
Croatian: nepotreban
Czech: zbytečný
Danish: unødvendig
Dutch: onnodig
European Spanish: innecesario
Finnish: tarpeeton
French: inutile
German: unnötig
Greek: περιττός
Italian: inutile
Japanese: 不必要な
Korean: 불필요한
Norwegian: unødvendig
Polish: niepotrzebny
European Portuguese: desnecessário
Romanian: inutil
Russian: излишний
Latin American Spanish: innecesario
Swedish: onödig
Thai: ไม่จำเป็น
Turkish: gereksiz
Ukrainian: непотрібний
Vietnamese: không cần thiết
Chinese translation of 'unnecessary'
unnecessary
(ʌnˈnɛsəsərɪ)
adj
不必要的 (bù bìyào de)
it was unnecessary to do anything什么(麼)都不必做 (shénme dōu bùbì zuò)
(adjective)
Definition
not essential, or more than is essential
The slaughter of whales is unnecessary and inhuman.
Synonyms
needless
Our families thought I was taking a needless risk.
excessive
unwarranted
an unwarranted interference in the country's internal affairs
useless
pointless
not needed
redundant
the conversion of redundant buildings to residential use
wasteful
gratuitous
The film has been criticized for its gratuitous violence.
superfluous
My presence at the afternoon's proceedings was superflous.
wanton
the unnecessary and wanton destruction of our environment
expendable
Once we're of no more use to them, we're expendable.
surplus to requirements
uncalled-for
Leo's uncalled-for remarks about her cousin
dispensable
These resources are dispensable.
unneeded
nonessential
inessential
We judged footnotes inessential to the text.
unmerited
to no purpose
unrequired
supererogatory
Opposites
needed
,
required
,
necessary
,
essential
,
vital
,
indispensable
Additional synonyms
in the sense of dispensable
Definition
not essential
These resources are dispensable.
Synonyms
expendable,
unnecessary,
disposable,
superfluous,
nonessential,
inessential,
unrequired
in the sense of expendable
Definition
able to be sacrificed to achieve an objective, esp. a military one
Once we're of no more use to them, we're expendable.
Synonyms
dispensable,
unnecessary,
unimportant,
replaceable,
nonessential,
inessential
in the sense of gratuitous
Definition
unjustified or unreasonable
The film has been criticized for its gratuitous violence.
Synonyms
unjustified,
unnecessary,
needless,
unfounded,
unwarranted,
superfluous,
wanton,
unprovoked,
groundless,
baseless,
uncalled-for,
unmerited,
causeless
Synonyms of 'unnecessary'
unnecessary
Explore 'unnecessary' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of inessential
Definition
not necessary
We judged footnotes inessential to the text.
Synonyms
unnecessary,
redundant,
superfluous,
spare,
surplus,
optional,
needless,
extraneous,
extrinsic,
uncalled-for,
dispensable
in the sense of redundant
Definition
surplus to requirements
the conversion of redundant buildings to residential use
Synonyms
superfluous,
extra,
surplus,
excessive,
unnecessary,
unwanted,
inordinate,
inessential,
supernumerary,
de trop,
supererogatory
in the sense of superfluous
Definition
more than is sufficient or required
My presence at the afternoon's proceedings was superflous.
Synonyms
excess,
surplus,
redundant,
remaining,
extra,
spare,
excessive,
unnecessary,
in excess,
needless,
left over,
on your hands,
surplus to requirements,
uncalled-for,
unneeded,
residuary,
supernumerary,
superabundant,
pleonastic,
unrequired,
supererogatory
in the sense of uncalled-for
Definition
unnecessary or unwarranted
Leo's uncalled-for remarks about her cousin
Synonyms
unnecessary,
unjustified,
unwarranted,
inappropriate,
needless,
unwelcome,
unjust,
gratuitous,
unprovoked,
undeserved
in the sense of unwarranted
Definition
not justified or necessary
an unwarranted interference in the country's internal affairs
Synonyms
unnecessary,
unjustified,
indefensible,
wrong,
unreasonable,
unjust,
gratuitous,
unprovoked,
inexcusable,
groundless,
uncalled-for
in the sense of wanton
Definition
(of a person) maliciously and unnecessarily cruel
the unnecessary and wanton destruction of our environment