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

Mary Shelley’s Frankenhole is lightly serialized, but following the ongoing story is not really the point; in a meta effort to convey how time is meaningless to the immortal, Stamatopoulos requested that the first season be aired in a random order. —Eric Vilas-Boas, Vulture, 18 Mar. 2026

But the Longhorns' all-time leader in assists and steals also knows that regional assignments are meaningless without first- and second-round wins. —Danny Davis, Austin American Statesman, 16 Mar. 2026

And playing teams that are fighting for playoff positioning, like Utah and the Dallas Stars, lends some weight to otherwise meaningless games. —Mark Lazerus, New York Times, 14 Mar. 2026

There’s a heartwarming idiocy to their pursuit, yet what festers underneath is their inability to process grief consciously and the fear that those who deem their existence meaningless might be right. —Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 14 Mar. 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