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.
The One About Matthew Perry A fine feature-length doc unnecessarily extended into a three-hour docuseries. — Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 27 Oct. 2026 But organizations can stop compounding that uncertainty with structures that make adaptation unnecessarily difficult. — Carol Geffner, Forbes.com, 26 Oct. 2026 Instead, Texas again turned a double-digit lead into an unnecessarily exciting evening, but at least this time Sarkisian’s team didn’t flip a win into a loss. — Mac Engel october 25, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 Oct. 2026 With other approaches on the table, using a donor’s tissue may already be an unnecessarily risky strategy. — Mike McRae 21, New Atlas, 22 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 1 Nov. 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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