Dictionary

needlessly en · ADV

Pronunciation

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Etymology

Etymology tree English needless Middle English -ly English -ly English needlessly From needless + -ly.

Meanings

1. In a needless manner.
2. To a degree or extent beyond what is needed.
   • At present that convenience is still needlessly expensive in Great Britain, and a scandalously stupid business conflict between telephone company and post-office delays, complicates, and makes costly and exasperating all trunk communications; but even under these disadvantages the thing is becoming a factor in the life of ordinary villadom. 1902, Herbert George Wells, Anticipations:
   • He was always needlessly anxious about his dog.
3. Without need.
   • He worried needlessly about his dog.

Forms

Synonyms

unnecessarily

Translations (9)

ga gan chall (in a needless manner) · gd gun fheum (in a needless manner) · es por gusto (in a needless manner) · ru напрасно (in a needless manner) · ga gan fáth (in a needless manner) · hu szükségtelenül (in a needless manner) · es innecesariamente (in a needless manner) · pt desnecessariamente (in a needless manner) · pl niepotrzebnie (in a needless manner)