1
as in unsuccessful
producing no results
this argument is totally fruitless, as neither of us will change our position
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in barren
not able to produce fruit or offspring
a stand of blighted, fruitless trees
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of fruitless
Little Ollie consists of a fruitless olive that has been grafted onto a dwarfing rootstock.
—
Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 20 Sep. 2025
On display near the entrance were three Army workhorses, all of which went into service more than forty years ago and have yet to be replaced despite many billions spent on fruitless research and development.
—Seth Harp, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025
After six largely fruitless seasons in New York, Jones looked like — whisper — one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL in Week 1, dicing up the Dolphins for 272 yards and three total TDs.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 12 Sep. 2025
The two had met many times before in talks that often proved fruitless.
—Oren Liebermann, CNN Money, 11 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fruitless
Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 20 Sep. 2025
On display near the entrance were three Army workhorses, all of which went into service more than forty years ago and have yet to be replaced despite many billions spent on fruitless research and development.
—Seth Harp, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025
After six largely fruitless seasons in New York, Jones looked like — whisper — one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL in Week 1, dicing up the Dolphins for 272 yards and three total TDs.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 12 Sep. 2025
The two had met many times before in talks that often proved fruitless.
—Oren Liebermann, CNN Money, 11 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fruitless
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fruitless
Adjective
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Conservatives like Schlafly, unsuccessful in their early 80’s boycott, had their first taste of activist success on the airwaves.—
Steven Zeitchik,
HollywoodReporter,
27 Sep. 2025
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The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel attempted to contact Rebholz via email about the school's fundraising goal and money raised but was unsuccessful.—
Cathy Kozlowicz,
jsonline.com,
26 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Together with progress made in other areas, such as finding ways of making Mars warm enough to sustain liquid water, restoring barren environments on Earth could be a key to one day living on Mars.—
Chris Impey,
The Conversation,
23 Sep. 2025
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At the time, only a handful of the university’s buildings were completed and the barren campus lacked landscaping.—
Ron Hasse,
Oc Register,
19 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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But the job search proved futile, partly due to visa uncertainties and the impacts of the Department of Government Efficiency.—
David Ferrara,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
30 Sep. 2025
-
Truly, skimping on this step will render everything else futile.—
Essence,
Essence,
23 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Flushing the eye with a sterile saline solution, making sure to get under your eyelids, can be helpful.—
Hannah Yasharoff,
USA Today,
29 Sep. 2025
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Some participate in sophisticated processes like synthesizing medicine ingredients, while others design software for quality control or specialize in sterile packaging.—
Elaine Parker,
Oc Register,
29 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
But having 10 power play opportunities also made the game somewhat useless.—
Arpon Basu,
New York Times,
1 Oct. 2025
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With her charger useless and the screen showing a dangerously low percentage, the reality sank in.—
Ashley Vega,
PEOPLE,
30 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The restaurant owned by Dan McCormick taking over the former Village Tavern location, which closed in October 2024, when its lease ran out and negotiations proved unfruitful.—
Heidi Finley,
Charlotte Observer,
29 Sep. 2025
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Homosexual life, by contrast, is one of unfruitful stasis and sterile repetition.—
Garth Greenwell,
Harpers Magazine,
19 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fruitless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fruitless. Accessed 2 Oct. 2025.
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