meaningless

adjective

mean·​ing·​less ˈmē-niŋ-ləs How to pronounce meaningless (audio)
1
: having no meaning
especially : lacking any significance
2
: having no assigned function in a language system
meaninglessly adverb
meaninglessness noun

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The most likely candidates for an add would be the 2024 seventh-round pick Hanson or Driskell, but neither had an offensive snap last season outside of the team’s meaningless week 18 game against Denver. Kansas City Star, 3 July 2025 Choose one, and land in a place that reduces the number of meaningless games for a conference that plays more Group of Five and FCS cupcakes than any other Power Four league. Blake Toppmeyer, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025 While Domínguez started the scoring with a two-run single off Kevin Gausman in the first and added a meaningless run in the ninth, the Yankees had a difficult time putting runs on the board outside of the Blue Jays’ gaffes. Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 1 July 2025 Nah, that would generate interest in a meaningless game in June. Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 20 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for meaningless

Word History

First Known Use

1796, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of meaningless was in 1796

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Cite this Entry

“Meaningless.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/meaningless. Accessed 10 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

meaningless

adjective
mean·​ing·​less ˈmē-niŋ-ləs How to pronounce meaningless (audio)
1
: having no meaning or significance
meaningless chatter
2
: lacking motive
a meaningless murder
meaninglessly adverb
meaninglessness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on meaningless

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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