: having or being of no use:
a
: ineffectual
a useless attempt
b
: not doing or not able to do what is needed
a dull, useless knife
An antibiotic is useless in treating this disease.
uselessly
adverb
uselessness
noun
Examples of useless in a Sentence
The tent is useless in wet conditions.
I made a useless attempt at fixing the leak.
Drugs are useless in treating the condition.
Recent Examples on the Web
In a joint status report filed last week, Schuman’s lawyers agreed mediation seemed useless.
—
Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 21 Jan. 2026
The Ellis Island screening was a useless predictor of the path the immigrant would choose once in the USA .
—Chicago Tribune, 19 Jan. 2026
But after 60, the objective should change — not because saving is useless, but because the goal changes.
—Steve Booren, Denver Post, 18 Jan. 2026
The chemicals must be applied before snow covers the ground; treating an infected lawn in the spring is useless.
—Nadia Hassani, The Spruce, 17 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for useless
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Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 21 Jan. 2026
The Ellis Island screening was a useless predictor of the path the immigrant would choose once in the USA .
—Chicago Tribune, 19 Jan. 2026
But after 60, the objective should change — not because saving is useless, but because the goal changes.
—Steve Booren, Denver Post, 18 Jan. 2026
The chemicals must be applied before snow covers the ground; treating an infected lawn in the spring is useless.
—Nadia Hassani, The Spruce, 17 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for useless
Cite this Entry
“Useless.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/useless. Accessed 28 Jan. 2026.
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