UNFRUITFUL Synonyms: 35 Similar and Opposite Words

unfruitful

adjective

ˌən-ˈfrüt-fəl

Definition of unfruitful

as in sterile

not able to produce fruit or offspring disappointed to discover that the mare was unfruitful

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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.

Recent Examples of unfruitful But if those efforts are unfruitful, the property can be turned over to the state. — Addy Bink, The Hill, 23 Dec. 2025 Mitchell spent 10 years preaching, racking up unfruitful notes from church growth conferences, and eventually started struggling with depression. — Charlotte Kramon, Fortune, 7 Dec. 2025 Its lease had run out, and negotiations proved unfruitful. — Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 21 Nov. 2025 That’s one investment that has proved rather unfruitful so far, although things appear to be looking up for WBD investors currently with company on the auction block and simultaneously preparing to separate its cable operations and studios/streaming into to companies. — Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 29 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for unfruitful

Recent Examples of Synonyms for unfruitful

Adjective

For years, the only factory breeding sterile flies in the Western Hemisphere was in Panama, but the USDA invested $21 million to convert a site in southern Mexico from breeding fruit flies to recently start breeding screwworm flies.

— John Hanna, Fortune, 8 July 2026
The release, which took place in Rosemont, marked the launch of the sterile insect technique program.

— Alula Alderson, Sacbee.com, 8 July 2026

Definition of sterile

Adjective

Besides, nobody was going to believe that humanity's nemesis hailed from Mars after the Viking landers had sent back photos of a barren, dead world.

— Richard Edwards, Space.com, 4 July 2026
Its location on barren, massive Fort Bliss land also allowed for a space that could hold up to 10,000 unauthorized immigrants at a time, more than any other facility in the country.

— Perla Trevizo, ProPublica, 3 July 2026

Definition of barren

Adjective

The parents of a 4-year-old girl killed and disposed of their daughter's remains before reporting her missing, setting off a huge and fruitless search in South Carolina to bring her home alive, authorities said while announcing criminal charges.

— Joe Hotchkiss, USA Today, 10 July 2026
Rather than identifying that the problem is unsolvable, models often engage in extended but ultimately fruitless reasoning loops in an attempt to answer the question.

— Edd Gent, IEEE Spectrum, 8 July 2026

Definition of fruitless

Browse Nearby Words

unfrozen

unfruitful

unfulfilled

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“Unfruitful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unfruitful. Accessed 11 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of unfruitful

adjective

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