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Needless vs Needful - What's the difference?

needless | needful |

As adjectives the difference between needless and needful

is that needless is not needed; unnecessary while needful is needed; necessary; mandatory; requisite; indispensible.

As a noun needful is

anything necessary or requisite.

needless

English

Alternative forms

* needles (obsolete)

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Not needed; unnecessary.
    • This new project of yours will only be a needless expense.

    Derived terms

    * needless to say

    Anagrams

    *

    needful

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Needed; necessary; mandatory; requisite; indispensible.
  • * 1898 , , (Moonfleet) Chapter 5
    • So I went to keep house with him at the Why Not? and my aunt sent down my bag of clothes, and would have made over to Elzevir the pittance that my father left for my keep, but he said it was not needful , and he would have none of it.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • Anything necessary or requisite.
  • Ready money; wherewithal.

    • Usage notes

    (Do the needful) Commonly found in phrases such as "do the needful" or "please do the needful"; which occur commonly in Indian English but are held as archaic in other dialects; nonetheless being heard more and more by speakers of said dialects in their interactions with speakers of Indian English. This has to some extent lead to these phrases being seen as stereotypical of Indian English and used in a parodying context by speakers of other dialects, some of whom may find their usage odd and/or pretentious.

    Derived terms

    * do the needful