meaningless

adjective

mean·​ing·​less ˈmē-niŋ-ləs 

1

: having no meaning

especially : lacking any significance

felt his work was meaningless

2

: having no assigned function in a language system

meaninglessly adverb

meaninglessness noun

Synonyms of meaningless

• pointless
• absurd
• stupid
• inane
• silly
• irrational
• empty
• foolish

Examples of meaningless in a Sentence

He felt that his work was meaningless.

The movie was filled with meaningless violence.

Recent Examples on the Web

The truth is that what happened on the pitch was meaningless for most. —Matt Woosnam, New York Times, 25 May 2026

Founders who keep dipping back into operations are the ones who lose the operator within six months because the role becomes meaningless. —Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 22 May 2026

Iyengar joked about the marketplace now offering over 100 different shades of white paint as an example of meaningless differentiation. —Preston Fore, Fortune, 20 May 2026

Expansion would also likely bring about the need to abolish conference title games, which are increasingly meaningless and would be more so in, say, a world where the first- through fourth-place teams in every conference end up in the playoffs. —ABC News, 18 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1796, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

meaningless

adjective

mean·​ing·​less ˈmē-niŋ-ləs 

1

: having no meaning or significance

meaningless chatter

2

: lacking motive

a meaningless murder

meaninglessly adverb

meaninglessness noun