unessential
/'ʌni'senʃəl/
Definition
- Adjective:
- Not basic or fundamental: Describes something that is not absolutely necessary; something that can be omitted without affecting the core nature or function of something else.
- Secondary or incidental: Refers to elements that are of minor importance or relevance to the main subject or purpose.
Usage Examples
- Adjective:
- The report was concise, focusing on key facts and removing all unessential details.
- In an emergency, you should carry only essential items and leave behind anything unessential.
- These decorative features are nice but ultimately unessential to the machine's operation.
Advanced Usage
- "to deem something unessential": to judge or consider something as not necessary.
- The committee deemed the proposed appendix unessential to the main argument.
- "the unessential" (used as a nominal adjective): referring collectively to things that are not essential.
- In minimalist design, the goal is to strip away the unessential.
Variants and Related Words
- Inessential (adj): A direct synonym meaning not necessary. (e.g., )
- Dispensable (adj): Capable of being dispensed with or done without. (e.g., )
- Nonessential (adj): Another common synonym for not being necessary or required. (e.g., )
Synonyms
- Nonessential: Not absolutely necessary.
- Incidental: Occurring as a minor accompaniment or by chance; not central.
- Extraneous: Irrelevant or unrelated to the subject; coming from outside.
- Peripheral: Of secondary or minor importance; relating to the edge.
Antonyms
- Essential: Absolutely necessary; extremely important.
- Fundamental: Forming a necessary base or core; of central importance.
- Crucial: Of great importance; decisive or critical.
- Indispensable: Absolutely necessary; cannot be done without.
Notes on Usage
- "Unessential" vs. "Nonessential": Both are correct and largely interchangeable. "Nonessential" is slightly more common in modern usage, but "unessential" is perfectly valid.
- The word is typically used to describe parts, details, or items that are supplementary rather than core components. It often carries a neutral or slightly negative connotation, implying that the thing described could or should be removed to improve clarity, efficiency, or focus.
Adjective
-
not basic or fundamental
Khám phá thêm
Các từ liên quan
Từ đồng nghĩa
Từ trái nghĩa
Từ tương tự
Từ gần giống
