Needlessly: meaning, definitions and examples

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needlessly

 

[ ˈniːdləsli ]

Adverb
Context #1 | Adverb

in describing an action

In a way that is unnecessary or not required.

Synonyms

pointlessly, superfluously, unjustifiably, unnecessarily

Examples of usage

  • He was needlessly cruel to her.
  • She felt needlessly anxious about the situation.
  • The rules seemed needlessly strict.
Context #2 | Adverb

in explaining a situation

In a way that serves no purpose or adds no value.

Synonyms

fruitlessly, futilely, uselessly

Examples of usage

  • He spoke needlessly, without saying anything important.
  • She wasted her time needlessly worrying about things that never happened.

Translations

Translations of the word "needlessly" in other languages:

🇵🇹 desnecessariamente

🇮🇳 अनावश्यक रूप से

🇩🇪 unnötigerweise

🇮🇩 tanpa perlu

🇺🇦 без потреби

🇵🇱 niepotrzebnie

🇯🇵 不必要に (ふひつように)

🇫🇷 inutilement

🇪🇸 innecesariamente

🇹🇷 gereksiz yere

🇰🇷 불필요하게 (bulpil-yohage)

🇸🇦 بلا داعٍ

🇨🇿 zbytečně

🇸🇰 zbytočne

🇨🇳 不必要地 (bù bìyào de)

🇸🇮 nepotrebno

🇮🇸 að óþörfu

🇰🇿 қажетсіз

🇬🇪 უსარგებლოდ

🇦🇿 lazımsız

🇲🇽 innecesariamente

Etymology

The word 'needlessly' is derived from the word 'needless', which appeared in English in the late 14th century, meaning 'not needing to be done' or 'unnecessary'. The addition of the suffix '-ly' transforms 'needless' into an adverb, conveying the manner in which an action is performed. Over time, 'needlessly' has become a commonly used term in English to describe actions or situations that are unnecessary or serve no purpose.

See also: need, neediness, needle, needs, needy, unneeded.

Word Frequency Rank

With rank #18,751, this word belongs to specialized vocabulary. While not common in everyday speech, it enriches your ability to express complex ideas.