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Necessary vs Superfluous - What's the difference?

necessary | superfluous |

As adjectives the difference between necessary and superfluous

is that necessary is needed, required while superfluous is in excess of what is required or sufficient.

As a noun necessary

is (archaic|british) bathroom, toilet, loo.

necessary

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • needed, required
  • * Shakespeare
  • 'Tis necessary he should die.
  • * Tillotson
  • A certain kind of temper is necessary to the pleasure and quiet of our minds.
  • Such as must be; not to be avoided; inevitable.
  • * Shakespeare
  • Death, a necessary end, / Will come when it will come.
  • Acting from necessity or compulsion; involuntary.
  • Whether man is a necessary or a free agent is a question much discussed.

    Synonyms

    * (needed) See also * (such as must be) inevitable, natural

    Antonyms

    * (needed) unnecessary * (such as must be) evitable, incidental, impossible

    Derived terms

    * necessarily * necessary condition

    Noun

    (necessaries)
  • (archaic, British) bathroom, toilet, loo
  • Statistics

    *

    superfluous

    English

    Adjective

    (-)
  • In excess of what is required or sufficient.
  • With a full rain suit, carrying an umbrella may be superfluous .

    Synonyms

    * excessive, extraneous, extra, pleonastic, supernumerary, surplus, unnecessary, extravagant

    Coordinate terms

    * gratuitous