Standard Lemma guide

unnecessarily

adv · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • CMU ARPABET: AH0 N N EH1 S AH0 S EH2 R AH0 L IY0 Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

adv

Meaning 1

In an unnecessary way; not by necessity.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • He unnecessarily repeated much of what others had covered.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: needlessly, pointlessly, uselessly, for no reason

Antonyms: none provided

2

adv

Meaning 2

To an extent beyond what is needed.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • The food provided was unnecessarily generous, especially for an event meant to raise money for the hungry.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: unduly

Antonyms: none provided

3

adverb

Meaning 3

without any necessity

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • this marathon would exhaust him unnecessarily

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

adverb

Meaning 4

in an unnecessary manner

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • they were unnecessarily rude

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: necessarily

History

Etymology

From unnecessary + -ly or un- + necessarily.

Across languages

Translations

21 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Catalan: innecessàriament — in an unnecessary way
  • Dutch: onnodig — in an unnecessary way
  • Esperanto: nenecese — in an unnecessary way
  • Estonian: asjata — in an unnecessary way
  • French: inutilement — in an unnecessary way
  • French: gratuitement — in an unnecessary way
  • Galician: innecesariamente — in an unnecessary way
  • German: unnötigerweise — in an unnecessary way
  • Haryanvi: खामखा (khāmkhā) — in an unnecessary way
  • Hindi: अनावश्यक (anāvaśyak) — in an unnecessary way
  • Hungarian: szükségtelenül — in an unnecessary way
  • Hungarian: feleslegesen — in an unnecessary way
  • Italian: inutilmente — in an unnecessary way
  • Occitan: innecessàriament — in an unnecessary way
  • Polish: niekoniecznie — in an unnecessary way
  • Romanian: în mod nenecesar — in an unnecessary way
  • Slovak: zbytočne — in an unnecessary way
  • Spanish: innecesariamente — in an unnecessary way
  • Swedish: onödigtvis — in an unnecessary way
  • Swedish: i onödan — in an unnecessary way
  • Telugu: అనవసరంగా (anavasaraṅgā) — in an unnecessary way