superfluous Hear it!

superfluous Definition

su·per·flu·ous (sə pʉr′flo̵̅o̅ əs, so̵̅o̅-)

adjective

  1. being more than is needed, useful, or wanted; surplus; excessive
  2. not needed; unnecessary; irrelevant a superfluous remark
  3. Obsolete extravagant; prodigal

Etymology: L superfluus < superfluere, to overflow: see super- & fluctuate

superfluous Related Forms

su·per′·flu·ously adverb su·per′·flu·ous·ness noun

superfluous Synonyms

superfluous

modif.

unnecessary, excessive, superabundant, overflowing, redundant, overmuch, very great, abounding, inordinate, needless, exorbitant, on one's hands, in excess, extravagant, profuse, turgescent, supererogatory, pleonastic, lavish, overcharged; see also extra, extreme 2.

Antonyms wanting*, scanty*, lacking.

superfluous Usage Examples

Infinitive complement

mention: It seems superfluous to mention it, but don't go swimming if you've been drinking alcohol.

Modifying Another Word

  • somewhat: There's also a part about the weapons of the Waffen-SS which feels somewhat superfluous.
  • largely: One less concerned with the sell would have dispensed with a largely superfluous chapter on Easter 1916.
  • almost: To the dozen medics around the table, the point that the doctor was making seemed almost superfluous.
  • completely: So coupled with the word technology it is completely superfluous; rather like saying experiment and science or numbers and maths.
  • rather: The second warning is, however, rather superfluous in my view.
  • totally: These totally superfluous police horsemen were never in the processions in earlier years.

Adjective complement with noun phrase

  • render: The existence of the human data, however, renders the animal data superfluous.
  • make: The point here is that the Spirit does not make study superfluous.

Modifies a noun

  • breath: Notes: ' What cracker is this name, that deafs our ears / With this abundance of superfluous breath?
  • word: The Times ' subs obviously missed the three superfluous words in there.
  • injury: Second, it is prohibited to cause superfluous injury or unnecessary suffering.
  • element: Your own kernel lacks superfluous elements and is therefore faster and more stable.
  • information: Do not answer a question that was not asked or provide superfluous information.
  • detail: Most CVs start with these but take care to avoid superfluous details, such as religious affiliation, children's names and so on.

Used with adjective complement

  • seem: Note: my exit 0 may seem superfluous here.
  • render: They feel they cannot cope and they feel rendered superfluous.
  • deem: It works by eliminating information from the file that the program deems superfluous.
  • become: Once the glue is cured, the caustic soda becomes superfluous.
  • feel: There's also a part about the weapons of the Waffen-SS which feels somewhat superfluous.