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
For these folks, churches are superfluous — at best.
—
Chris Roemer, Baltimore Sun, 2 Apr. 2026
The additional screen is superfluous.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 6 Mar. 2026
The Dow tumbled more than 800 points on Monday, in large part because of a Substack post from Citrini Research that laid out hypothetical scenarios for how developments in AI could disrupt certain parts of the economy, including AI agents making white-collar work superfluous.
—Auzinea Bacon, CNN Money, 28 Feb. 2026
New clinics in Broward County will be superfluous, costly and ultimately paid for by patients.
—Arthur E. Palamara, Sun Sentinel, 22 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for superfluous
Chris Roemer, Baltimore Sun, 2 Apr. 2026
The additional screen is superfluous.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 6 Mar. 2026
The Dow tumbled more than 800 points on Monday, in large part because of a Substack post from Citrini Research that laid out hypothetical scenarios for how developments in AI could disrupt certain parts of the economy, including AI agents making white-collar work superfluous.
—Auzinea Bacon, CNN Money, 28 Feb. 2026
New clinics in Broward County will be superfluous, costly and ultimately paid for by patients.
—Arthur E. Palamara, Sun Sentinel, 22 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for superfluous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for superfluous
Adjective
-
For the more adventurous, a coastal path recently opened that snakes around the foot of the dramatic Dois Irmãos to São Conrado and is well worth the extra legwork for the unforgettable vistas.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
21 May 2026
-
That sixth-place finish was also worth an extra £96,000 to the public purse.—
Philip Buckingham,
New York Times,
21 May 2026
Adjective
-
Save excess poaching liquid in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.—
Rebecca Firkser,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
14 May 2026
-
Over time, excess soap can damage the machine itself.—
Ryan Brennan
May 14,
Miami Herald,
14 May 2026
Adjective
-
Serpa believes the most important job of the treasurer is to get the state back to having a surplus budget.—
Linh Tat,
Daily News,
20 May 2026
-
Banana Republic was founded in 1978 by Mel and Patricia Ziegler as a catalogue specializing in surplus military clothing, safari jackets and adventure wear, with colorful illustrations and content that reads like a travelogue.—
David Moin,
Footwear News,
19 May 2026
Adjective
-
Bring a flashlight with spare batteries to hike during the cool evening.—
Hali Smith,
Idaho Statesman,
13 May 2026
-
Other things flying up include flexible repair patches for sealing the space station’s hull, a replacement ultrasonic inspection tool, spare units for the station’s vibration monitoring system and parts to improve water processing and oxygen generation.—
Richard Tribou,
The Orlando Sentinel,
12 May 2026
Adjective
-
Smart irrigation sensors can help prevent unnecessary watering after storms.—
Erica Browne Grivas,
Better Homes & Gardens,
19 May 2026
-
Johansson and Robbins say the goal of the blood test is not to replace CT scans, which are effective but expensive and may expose people to unnecessary amounts of radiation if they are used broadly in a large population.—
Alice Park,
Time,
18 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Superfluous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/superfluous. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
