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
In the two years since then, police have interviewed friends and family in a thus-far fruitless attempt to explain why anyone would want Avila dead.
—
Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 26 Sep. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for fruitless
Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 26 Sep. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for fruitless
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fruitless
Adjective
-
The pose Harris struck and held through her unsuccessful 2024 campaign for the White House is called the good soldier.—
Jeremy Lott,
The Washington Examiner,
3 Oct. 2025
-
Now, after years of mostly unsuccessful efforts to eliminate windows from cabins, one luxury jet maker appears to be on the verge of doing just that.—
Mack DeGeurin,
Popular Science,
2 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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The Giants have Logan Webb and Robbie Ray as their 1-2 punch, but the starting pitching is barren behind them.—
Drew VonScio,
MSNBC Newsweek,
2 Oct. 2025
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Piazzale Angelo Moratti will no longer appear like a vast docking station for a bleeping spaceship on a barren planet, serviced only by rickety trams and a purple metro line.—
James Horncastle,
New York Times,
1 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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The rest of the industry wants to emulate this success, but as many editors know, chasing a trend can be a futile endeavor.—
Rebecca Ackermann,
The Atlantic,
5 Oct. 2025
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At least one company ended the workday early, figuring any attempts to get employees back on track would be futile.—
Kristen Parisi,
Fortune,
2 Oct. 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
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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 9 Oct. 2025.
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