Needless
adjective
Not needed or necessary.
It was a needless waste of money.
Often appears as...
- needless worry
- needless risk
adjective
Saying something that everyone already knows or accepts.
Needless to say, if you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask.
Often appears as...
- needless to say
- needless to mention
Usage tips
Idiomatic
adjective
Not needed or necessary.
It was a needless waste of money.
Often appears as...
- needless worry
- needless risk
adjective
Saying something that everyone already knows or accepts.
Needless to say, if you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask.
Often appears as...
- needless to say
- needless to mention
Usage tips
Idiomatic
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Redundancy Highlight
Use 'needless' to stress that something is excessively redundant or could be completely avoided.
Bringing extra equipment was needless, as the venue provided everything.
Pro Tip 2/3Unnecessary Negative
'Needless' often precedes a negative outcome highlighting something that could have been avoided.
The argument was a needless complication to our project plans.
Pro Tip 3/3Criticism or Regret
Use 'needless' when expressing criticism over an action or regret about an event that was unnecessary.
Needless errors during the exam cost me a higher score.
Pro Tip 1/3Redundancy Highlight
Use 'needless' to stress that something is excessively redundant or could be completely avoided.
Bringing extra equipment was needless, as the venue provided everything.
Pro Tip 2/3Unnecessary Negative
'Needless' often precedes a negative outcome highlighting something that could have been avoided.
The argument was a needless complication to our project plans.
Pro Tip 3/3Criticism or Regret
Use 'needless' when expressing criticism over an action or regret about an event that was unnecessary.
Needless errors during the exam cost me a higher score.
Pro Tip 1/3Redundancy Highlight
Use 'needless' to stress that something is excessively redundant or could be completely avoided.
Bringing extra equipment was needless, as the venue provided everything.
Pro Tip 2/3Unnecessary Negative
'Needless' often precedes a negative outcome highlighting something that could have been avoided.
The argument was a needless complication to our project plans.
Pro Tip 3/3Criticism or Regret
Use 'needless' when expressing criticism over an action or regret about an event that was unnecessary.
Needless errors during the exam cost me a higher score.
Compare with
excessivegratuitousnecessarypointlessredundantsuperfluousunjustifiedwarrant
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Video examples
The art of responsibility...
years old and I wanted to get my ears pierced and so I had to put a business plan together for my parents to convince them that there was value associated with me getting my ears pierced needless to say the first time I was shot down they said now they said it's too expensive and we're really not quite
Video examples
How do animals...
which suggests awareness of threats. We've reached the point that research has made us so sure that vertebrates recognize pain that it's illegal in many countries to needlessly harm these animals. But what about other types of animals like invertebrates? These animals aren't legally protected,
Video examples
What coronavirus means...
Do you find yourself in conversations, like, raising this, trying to take the view that, "No, no, no, you're needlessly sparking friction here, take a more generous view"? Because it feels to me like there's so much at stake between how many people are trying to nudge
Video examples
Is life meaningless? And...
Instead, the way to avoid needless bloodshed is to establish a public understanding of our shared human nature. Ironically, it was this cycle of relatively peaceful ideas that triggered his fallout with many fellow writers and philosophers. Despite the controversy,
Video examples
Science can answer moral...
to say it's possible for them to have beliefs and desires that reliably lead to needless human suffering just admitting this will transform our discourse about morality okay we live in it in a in a world in which the boundaries between nations mean less and
Video examples
Science can answer moral...
to have beliefs and desires that reliably lead to needless human suffering. Just admitting this will transform our discourse about morality. We live in a world in which the boundaries between nations mean less and less, and they will one day mean nothing.
Video examples
Nizar Ibrahim: Lost...
I should add that my grandmother had no problem whatsoever with the dinosaur part, but she has a deep-seated fear of snakes and crocodiles. So, needless to say that at least from her point of view, things did not really get any better as I got older.
Video examples
The voices in my head PIPE...
Which I actually did, and which needless to say did not endear me to the faculty. In effect, a vicious cycle of fear, avoidance, mistrust and misunderstanding had been established, and this was a battle in which I felt powerless
Video examples
Saving a Baby Orangutan,...
future and more orangutangs could needlessly die it can't stay in this but the team never knew they'd need to move it without one of the medical team to tranquilize the orangutan they face a difficult challenge
Video examples
The way we think about...
So there's a lot of us, needless to say. We're not new or rare. We're just invisible. We've existed throughout every culture in history.
Video examples
The art of responsibility...
years old and I wanted to get my ears pierced and so I had to put a business plan together for my parents to convince them that there was value associated with me getting my ears pierced needless to say the first time I was shot down they said now they said it's too expensive and we're really not quite
Video examples
How do animals...
which suggests awareness of threats. We've reached the point that research has made us so sure that vertebrates recognize pain that it's illegal in many countries to needlessly harm these animals. But what about other types of animals like invertebrates? These animals aren't legally protected,
Video examples
What coronavirus means...
Do you find yourself in conversations, like, raising this, trying to take the view that, "No, no, no, you're needlessly sparking friction here, take a more generous view"? Because it feels to me like there's so much at stake between how many people are trying to nudge
Video examples
Is life meaningless? And...
Instead, the way to avoid needless bloodshed is to establish a public understanding of our shared human nature. Ironically, it was this cycle of relatively peaceful ideas that triggered his fallout with many fellow writers and philosophers. Despite the controversy,
Video examples
Science can answer moral...
to say it's possible for them to have beliefs and desires that reliably lead to needless human suffering just admitting this will transform our discourse about morality okay we live in it in a in a world in which the boundaries between nations mean less and
Video examples
Science can answer moral...
to have beliefs and desires that reliably lead to needless human suffering. Just admitting this will transform our discourse about morality. We live in a world in which the boundaries between nations mean less and less, and they will one day mean nothing.
Video examples
Nizar Ibrahim: Lost...
I should add that my grandmother had no problem whatsoever with the dinosaur part, but she has a deep-seated fear of snakes and crocodiles. So, needless to say that at least from her point of view, things did not really get any better as I got older.
Video examples
The voices in my head PIPE...
Which I actually did, and which needless to say did not endear me to the faculty. In effect, a vicious cycle of fear, avoidance, mistrust and misunderstanding had been established, and this was a battle in which I felt powerless
Video examples
Saving a Baby Orangutan,...
future and more orangutangs could needlessly die it can't stay in this but the team never knew they'd need to move it without one of the medical team to tranquilize the orangutan they face a difficult challenge
Video examples
The way we think about...
So there's a lot of us, needless to say. We're not new or rare. We're just invisible. We've existed throughout every culture in history.
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Antonio Guterres
Portuguese Politician
Authorities that erect major obstacles to migration - or place severe restrictions on migrants' work opportunities - inflict needless economic self-harm, as they impose barriers to having their labor needs met in an orderly, legal fashion. Worse still, they unintentionally encourage illegal migration.
Quote examples
Aristotle
Greek Philosopher
The wise man does not expose himself needlessly to danger, since there are few things for which he cares sufficiently; but he is willing, in great crises, to give even his life - knowing that under certain conditions it is not worthwhile to live.
Quote examples
Jackie Joyner-Kersee
American Athlete
My denial and irresponsible attitude about asthma put me at great risk and caused me so much needless suffering. My hope is that the kids I talk to learn to open up about their asthma, become educated about their condition, and seek help.
Quote examples
Goldwin Smith
Canadian Historian
It is needless to say how great has been the influence of the doctrine of Evolution, or rather perhaps of the method of investigation to which it has given birth, upon the study of history, especially the history of institutions.
Quote examples
William Barclay
Scottish Theologian
When we believe that God is Father, we also believe that such a father's hand will never cause his child a needless tear. We may not understand life any better, but we will not resent life any longer.
Quote examples
Richard Ford
American Author
For a writer, children make life needlessly hard. I've muddled through a lot of things, but I have not muddled through my writing life. I work absolutely flat out, giving it my all.
Quote examples
Marti Noxon
American Writer
Too many people will die needlessly if we go back to letting people buy junk insurance or insurance that doesn't help people with diseases related to mental illness.
Quote examples
Nathaniel Philbrick
American Author
In the years to come, the combination of climate change and population growth could have a devastating effect on the planet and, needless to say, on humanity.
Quote examples
Claire Danes
American Actress
Every three seconds in the developing world, a child dies needlessly due to lack of basic health care and other things we all take for granted.
Quote examples
Edwin Way Teale
American Writer
Reduce the complexity of life by eliminating the needless wants of life, and the labors of life reduce themselves.
Quote examples
Antonio Guterres
Portuguese Politician
Authorities that erect major obstacles to migration - or place severe restrictions on migrants' work opportunities - inflict needless economic self-harm, as they impose barriers to having their labor needs met in an orderly, legal fashion. Worse still, they unintentionally encourage illegal migration.
Quote examples
Aristotle
Greek Philosopher
The wise man does not expose himself needlessly to danger, since there are few things for which he cares sufficiently; but he is willing, in great crises, to give even his life - knowing that under certain conditions it is not worthwhile to live.
Quote examples
Jackie Joyner-Kersee
American Athlete
My denial and irresponsible attitude about asthma put me at great risk and caused me so much needless suffering. My hope is that the kids I talk to learn to open up about their asthma, become educated about their condition, and seek help.
Quote examples
Goldwin Smith
Canadian Historian
It is needless to say how great has been the influence of the doctrine of Evolution, or rather perhaps of the method of investigation to which it has given birth, upon the study of history, especially the history of institutions.
Quote examples
William Barclay
Scottish Theologian
When we believe that God is Father, we also believe that such a father's hand will never cause his child a needless tear. We may not understand life any better, but we will not resent life any longer.
Quote examples
Richard Ford
American Author
For a writer, children make life needlessly hard. I've muddled through a lot of things, but I have not muddled through my writing life. I work absolutely flat out, giving it my all.
Quote examples
Marti Noxon
American Writer
Too many people will die needlessly if we go back to letting people buy junk insurance or insurance that doesn't help people with diseases related to mental illness.
Quote examples
Nathaniel Philbrick
American Author
In the years to come, the combination of climate change and population growth could have a devastating effect on the planet and, needless to say, on humanity.
Quote examples
Claire Danes
American Actress
Every three seconds in the developing world, a child dies needlessly due to lack of basic health care and other things we all take for granted.
Quote examples
Edwin Way Teale
American Writer
Reduce the complexity of life by eliminating the needless wants of life, and the labors of life reduce themselves.
Example 1 of 10
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