"Needn't" is a contraction of "need not," which means not requiring or not necessary. Synonyms that can be used interchangeably with "needn't" are "do not have to," "not obliged to," "are not obligated to," and "are not required to." These words give a sense of freedom and choice, as they indicate that something is not mandatory. Other synonyms for "needn't" include "can avoid," "can skip," "can forego," and "can dispense with," which suggest that something can be omitted or eliminated. Each of these synonyms provides a slightly different emphasis but all refer to the same general idea of not needing to do something.