superfluous

adjective

su̇-ˈpər-flü-əs How to pronounce superfluous (audio)
Definition of superfluousnext
as in extra
being over what is needed cleared off all the superfluous stuff on his desk to make room for the new computer

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of superfluous Some of the guest verses feel superfluous on otherwise glorious, upbeat cosmic funk. — Daniel Felsenthal, Pitchfork, 7 Apr. 2026 Mocktails arrived in steady procession, each one carefully assembled, none superfluous. — Chas Newkey-Burden, TheWeek, 24 Apr. 2026 Despite the school being known for its superfluous amenities, compared to surrounding schools, Carmel High School students only have to pay $43 for each ticket. — Katie Wiseman, IndyStar, 23 Apr. 2026 Such language is not only superfluous but also perpetuates toxic stereotypes, especially when news outlets regularly omit similar ethnic identifiers for criminal groups led by individuals who belong to other ethnic backgrounds. — Chicago Tribune, 10 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for superfluous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for superfluous
  1. extra
  2. excess
  3. surplus
  4. spare
  5. unnecessary
Adjective
  • That kind of granular information is important for emergency responders in the field and planners who make decisions about calling for extra help or ordering evacuations.
    — Eric Niiler, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
  • Each extra year of training, for example, translates to $143,000 in additional annual income.
    — Daniel de Visé, USA Today, 5 July 2026
Definition of extra
Adjective
  • With more than 2,000 excess deaths recorded over six days at the peak of the June heat, according to health authorities, France’s cultural resistance to AC has started to soften.
    — CNN Money, CNN Money, 7 July 2026
  • To prep the tofu, squeeze out excess water then cube or crumble it.
    — Malaka Gharib, NPR, 6 July 2026
Definition of excess
Adjective
  • According to the report, the OpenAI’s proposal seeks to replicate the Alaska Permanent Fund, a sovereign wealth fund established in 1976 to invest the state’s surplus oil revenues.
    — Siladitya Ray, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
  • In past deficit and surplus years alike, the council has declined to direct general fund dollars toward achieving their ambitious goal of eliminating traffic deaths.
    — Ariane Lange, Sacbee.com, 30 June 2026
Definition of surplus
Adjective
  • Morocco consistently found the spare man when working the ball across the pitch.
    — Mark Carey, New York Times, 6 July 2026
  • The kit also comes with thoughtful extras, including a spare bulb, cable ties, a spring clip, and a solar panel for breezy installation.
    — Better Homes & Gardens, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 July 2026
Definition of spare
Adjective
  • The company believes separating trim functions from full system startup could improve convenience and reduce unnecessary power use.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 3 July 2026
  • Increasing staff at medical facilities during heat waves could also prevent unnecessary deaths.
    — Christopher Cann, USA Today, 2 July 2026
Definition of unnecessary

Browse Nearby Words

superfluity
superfluous
superfluousness
See all Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

“Superfluous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/superfluous. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on superfluous

Nglish: Translation of superfluous for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
hangman letters and game
Hangman Lightning Round Figure out which word fits in the blanks.
See All