Synonyms for inessential
- adjective
Most common
unnecessary dispensable unneeded redundant non-essential incidental
Synonyms by meaning
Adjective
1. Unnecessary — not essential
2. Incidental — lacking essence or being
Other
Definitions
- adj. 1
Not essential.
Leave inessential items behind when there is a fire alarm.
- adj. 2
Lacking essence or being.
Example sentences
- unnecessary The facts proved that our worries were unnecessary.
- redundant The company made most of its employees redundant.
- unneeded Unneeded gifts can be re-gifted.
- incidental His criticism only referred to incidental matters.
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| inessential | steady | |
| unnecessary | falling | |
| redundant | rising | |
| unneeded | falling | |
| dispensable | rising |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 8 letters
- unneeded3
- 9 letters
- redundant3, extrinsic3
- 10 letters
- accidental4, incidental4
- 11 letters
- unnecessary5, dispensable4, unessential, essenceless
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (unneeded3 = 3 syllables).