unnecessarily

adverb

un·​nec·​es·​sar·​i·​ly ˌən-ˌne-sə-ˈser-ə-lē How to pronounce unnecessarily (audio)
: not by necessity : to an unnecessary degree
unnecessarily harsh criticism

Examples of unnecessarily in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Government critics and human rights campaigners have alleged that police tactics in the last month have been unnecessarily violent. — ABC News, 21 Oct. 2026 Its 14-inch Full HD display has a 1920x1080 resolution and an anti-glare finish, giving you a clear workspace without making the laptop unnecessarily large. — Stackcommerce Team, PC Magazine, 16 Oct. 2026 The commission would have to hold three public hearings and could not make changes that intentionally favor a political party or unnecessarily divide communities. — Shaun Boyd, CBS News, 14 Oct. 2026 But children with lice are often shamed and unnecessarily excluded from attending school. — Emily J. C. Wong, Washington Post, 11 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for unnecessarily

Word History

First Known Use

1565, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of unnecessarily was in 1565

Rhymes for unnecessarily

See All Rhymes for unnecessarily

Browse Nearby Words

unnecessaries
unnecessarily
unnecessariness
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Unnecessarily.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unnecessarily. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

unnecessarily

adverb
un·​nec·​es·​sar·​i·​ly ˌən-ˌnes-ə-ˈser-ə-lē How to pronounce unnecessarily (audio)
1
: not by necessity
spent money unnecessarily
2
: to an unnecessary degree
an unnecessarily harsh punishment
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