fruitless

adjective

fruit·​less ˈfrüt-ləs 

1

: unsuccessful

a fruitless attempt

2

: lacking or not bearing fruit

fruitlessly adverb

fruitlessness noun

Synonyms of fruitless

• unsuccessful
• futile
• useless

Choose the Right Synonym for fruitless

futile, vain, fruitless mean producing no result.

futile may connote completeness of failure or unwisdom of undertaking.

resistance had proved so futile that surrender was the only choice left

vain usually implies simple failure to achieve a desired result.

a vain attempt to get the car started

fruitless comes close to vain but often suggests long and arduous effort or severe disappointment.

fruitless efforts to obtain a lasting peace

Examples of fruitless in a Sentence

They made a fruitless attempt to find a solution.

It would be fruitless to continue.

Recent Examples on the Web

Dallas led early after the Wild made a fruitless early push. —Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 10 Apr. 2026

Gilead’s action became public at the end of March, when the international health organization Médicins Sans Frontières, or MSF, published an open letter detailing its fruitless yearlong effort to purchase a supply of lenacapavir from the company. —Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2026

After about two hours of fruitless searching, Espinoza took Horner to the Wise County Jail for an interview. —Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Apr. 2026

Although their efforts are fruitless, Sorele never gives up hope. —Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English fruytles, frutles, from fruyt, frut fruit entry 1 + -les -less

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for fruitless

• bootless
• rootless

Kids Definition

fruitless

adjective

fruit·​less ˈfrüt-ləs 

1

: not bearing fruit

2

: producing no good results : unsuccessful

a fruitless attempt

fruitlessly adverb

fruitlessness noun