Synonym Chooser

How is the word fruitless different from other adjectives like it?

The words futile and vain are common synonyms of fruitless. While all three words mean "producing no result," fruitless comes close to vain but often suggests long and arduous effort or severe disappointment.

fruitless efforts to obtain a lasting peace

When might futile be a better fit than fruitless?

The words futile and fruitless are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, futile may connote completeness of failure or unwisdom of undertaking.

resistance had proved so futile that surrender was the only choice left

When can vain be used instead of fruitless?

The words vain and fruitless can be used in similar contexts, but vain usually implies simple failure to achieve a desired result.

a vain attempt to get the car started

Example Sentences

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 fruitless So far, her efforts at finding the origins of meaning behind it have been fruitless. Jack Beresford, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 July 2025 And as the AMAs proved to be fruitless in terms of any Swift news, fans will just have to keep clowning. Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 27 May 2025 The surprise truce came after the US on Thursday submitted its latest proposal in its so far fruitless efforts to broker a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia. Kosta Gak, CNN Money, 21 Apr. 2025 If the effects of the tariffs are not yet being felt fully — or even at all — the billboards are part of the Canadian government’s two-pronged campaign after attempts to appease the Trump administration by beefing up border security proved fruitless. Billy Witz, New York Times, 6 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for fruitless
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fruitless
Adjective
  • Neighbors attempted to rescue her but were unsuccessful, the sheriff’s office said.
    Nour Rahal, Freep.com, 5 Aug. 2025
  • The current governor of Virginia, Glenn Youngkin, is a close ally of Trump, frequently appearing on the 2024 campaign trail with the then-candidate amid a push to try to flip Virginia red, which was unsuccessful yet yielded a close race.
    Zach LaChance, The Washington Examiner, 4 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • What might more readily bring about a crisis of identity than the physical alteration of the body, the change from bearer of life to barren woman?
    Hillary Kelly, The Atlantic, 5 Aug. 2025
  • Most of those barren years came before a current regime that has taken English cricket to new highs of attacking intent.
    Tim Ellis, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Attempts by deputies and paramedics to revive him were futile, and he was pronounced dead at 4:40 p.m.
    Kelly Davis, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Aug. 2025
  • Even finding enough people to fill all the jobs that would be needed would be futile, given the size of the workforce and the unemployment rate.
    Sheldon H. Jacobson, Twin Cities, 23 July 2025
Adjective
  • The invasive parasite has been nearing the Mexico–Texas border, threatening the area's cattle industry The U.S. and Mexico are working on numerous plans to combat New World screwworm infestations, including a plan to release sterile male flies to curb the species' spread.
    Moná Thomas, People.com, 11 Aug. 2025
  • The story follows a man trapped in an endless, sterile subway passageway, who sets out to find Exit 8.
    Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 6 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • The deals typically provide revenue for the host community while enabling the solar industry to cover essentially useless land with solar panels rather than taking out-of-service farmland, open fields or similar space.
    Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 5 Aug. 2025
  • Infrastructure is useless without operators who can manage it.
    Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 5 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Given his laborious and unfruitful season thus far, fans began speculating that Hamilton could potentially retire or move back to Mercedes, due to his current issues.
    Nelson Espinal, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Aug. 2025
  • From Sonos’ side, this could just be a logical conclusion to a somewhat unfruitful partnership with mid-tier products that the brand itself increasingly competes directly with.
    Parker Hall, Wired News, 7 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Fruitless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fruitless. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.

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