senseless

adjective

sense·​less ˈsen(t)s-ləs 

: destitute of, deficient in, or contrary to sense: such as

a

: unconscious

knocked senseless

b

: foolish, stupid

… it was some senseless practical joke …

—Arthur Conan Doyle

c

: meaningless

a senseless murder

senselessly adverb

senselessness noun

Synonyms of senseless

• unconscious

Examples of senseless in a Sentence

Don't be such a senseless idiot!

she collapsed, senseless, after hitting her head

Recent Examples on the Web

Join me in praying for the victims of such senseless violence and all the families of this church. —Washington Examiner Staff, The Washington Examiner, 8 Jan. 2026

My heart is with her family and loved ones, who are now grieving a senseless tragedy. —Dave Savini, CBS News, 7 Jan. 2026

Aden believes life is senseless, arbitrary. —Literary Hub, 5 Jan. 2026

Hollywood continues to mourn the legendary figure and process the senseless tragedy of Reiner and wife Michele having been found dead Sunday in their Brentwood home. —Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 19 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1547, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for senseless

• defenseless

Kids Definition

senseless

adjective

sense·​less ˈsen(t)-sləs 

1

: unconscious entry 1 sense 2

knocked senseless

2

: foolish, stupid

3

: pointless sense 1, meaningless

a senseless act

senselessly adverb

senselessness noun