1.
Something that is ~ is completely unnecessary.
But his death was so ~...
‘I have never knowingly exposed any patient to ~ risks,’ he said.
ADJ
~ly
Half a million women die ~ly each year during childbirth...
ADV: ADV with v, ADV adj
2.
You use ~ to say when you want to emphasize that what you are about to say is obvious and to be expected in the circumstances.
Our budgie got out of its cage while our cat was in the room. Needless to say, the cat moved quicker than me and caught it.
= of course
PHRASE: PHR with cl emphasis