useless

[ yoos-lis ]

See synonyms for useless on Thesaurus.com

adjective

of no use; not serving the purpose or any purpose; unavailing or futile: It is useless to reason with him.
without useful qualities; of no practical good: a useless person; a useless gadget.

Origin of useless

First recorded in 1585–95; use + -less

synonym study For useless

1. Useless, futile, ineffectual, vain refer to that which is unavailing. That is useless which is unavailing because of the circumstances of the case or some inherent defect: It is useless to cry over spilt milk. Futile suggests wasted effort and complete failure to attain a desired end: All attempts were futile. That which is ineffectual weakly applies energy in an ill-advised way and does not produce a desired effect: an ineffectual effort. That which is vain is fruitless or hopeless even after all possible effort: It is vain to keep on hoping.

Other words for useless

1	fruitless, profitless, valueless, worthless, inutile
2	unserviceable, unusable

See synonyms for useless on Thesaurus.com

Opposites for useless

effective

See antonyms for useless on Thesaurus.com

Other words from useless

use·less·ly, adverb
use·less·ness, noun

Words Nearby useless

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use useless in a sentence

Most people could agree on whether a given configuration of materials is a functioning vehicle or a useless set of parts.
The Birth of the Novel | Nick Romeo | November 27, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
In another generation, it will be useless, leading visitors straight into a pillar.
Silicon Valley Mansions, Swallowed Alive | Geoff Manaugh | November 8, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
Effectively, dozens of brand new jets worth billions of dollars are sitting on the ground useless.
Navy Grounds Top Guns | Dave Majumdar | October 17, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
But policies and cheap raw materials are useless if businesses fail to take advantage of them.
It’s Always Sunny In England | The Daily Beast | September 17, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
“My insurance, even though I finally got it, was useless,” she said.
Obamacare Now Pays for Gender Reassignment | Kaiser Health News | August 25, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST

Of course Edna would like to hear Mademoiselle Reisz play; but she feared it would be useless to entreat her.
The Awakening and Selected Short Stories | Kate Chopin
When a leaf is so young that it wraps itself around the main stalk it's useless to try to turn it over.
The Tale of Grandfather Mole | Arthur Scott Bailey
At an early date we find, further, a perfectly useless kind of imitation which is more akin to that of art.
Children's Ways | James Sully
It would be useless to put you to the expense of drawings, until you have made up your minds on what you intend to have done.
Life of Richard Trevithick, Volume II (of 2) | Francis Trevithick
You will do well to send a note to your amiable friend Carr; it may save him a useless journey; for at my table he shall not sit.
Elster's Folly | Mrs. Henry Wood

British Dictionary definitions for useless

useless

/ (ˈjuːslɪs) /

adjective

having no practical use or advantage
informal ineffectual, weak, or stupid: he's useless at history

Derived forms of useless

uselessly, adverb
uselessness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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