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Definition of unnecessary

unnecessary

/ʌnˈnɛs.ə.sɛr.i/
un · nec · es · sar · y
Adverb:unnecessarily
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unnecessary Lexical Profile

unnecessary Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

Not needed or required; exceeding what is essential or sufficient.

Example

"Please remove any unnecessary files from the shared folder to free up storage space."

2

Unjustifiably harsh, excessive, or unprovoked (typically of a remark or behavior).

Example

"The referee penalized the player for unnecessary roughness during the final quarter."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for unnecessary

• Nearby Words

unnaturally
unnaturalness
unnecessarily
unnecessary
unneeded
unneedful
unneighborliness

Word Origin & Etymology

First recorded in the late 14th century, formed in Middle English by adding the privative prefix un- to necessary, which derives from Latin necessarius ('unavoidable, indispensable').

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Unnecessary. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/unnecessary
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