bootless

adjective

ˈbüt-ləs How to pronounce bootless (audio)
Definition of bootlessnext
as in unsuccessful
producing no results a bootless effort to get tickets to the sold-out game

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for bootless
  1. unsuccessful
  2. futile
  3. useless
  4. unavailing
Adjective
  • Attempts by The Associated Press to reach the other men or their representatives have been unsuccessful.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Other searches to find PBHs near and far, however, have so far been unsuccessful.
    — Jonathan O'Callaghan, Scientific American, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of unsuccessful
Adjective
  • Before the court fight was launched, Edwin Benn, the arbitrator who oversaw 2023 contract negotiations between the city and FOP, warned the City Council that any attempt to undermine his award to the union would be futile.
    — Sam Charles, Chicago Tribune, 24 Sep. 2026
  • It’s also brilliantly written as a futile, pathetic rebellion by men with zero agency or purpose in their own lives.
    — Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of futile
Adjective
  • People tend to think of waste as trash, sewage, slag, manure and other seemingly useless or disgusting substances.
    — Edward D. Melillo, The Conversation, 30 Sep. 2026
  • Refuse outright, and the tool is useless to whoever authorizes it.
    — Ethan Pham, Forbes.com, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of useless
Adjective
  • On Saturday, Durant reaffirmed his stance that the question of his and other superstars’ effort was an unavailing narrative to explore every February.
    — Devon Henderson, New York Times, 14 Feb. 2026
  • The position advanced by the states is legally unavailing as a matter of longstanding and well-established law.
    — WSJ, WSJ, 25 July 2018
Definition of unavailing
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.

Browse Nearby Words

bootlegs
bootless
bootlessness
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Cite this Entry

“Bootless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bootless. Accessed 6 Oct. 2026.

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