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 This not only proves fruitless, but the probes seem to be hastening the closing of the wormhole. Keith Phipps, Vulture, 4 Sep. 2025 Such a move could trigger a separation-of-powers showdown, though one that some legal experts say could be fruitless due to years of precedent preventing such lawsuits. Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 3 Sep. 2025 But in the end, all efforts proved fruitless. Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 23 Aug. 2025 Masataka Yoshida’s double to lead off the fourth was similarly fruitless. Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 22 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for fruitless
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fruitless
Adjective
  • While Hadden-Paton was unsuccessful in keeping his dapper suit, his costar, Hugh Bonneville, who plays Lord Grantham, confessed to Kelly Ripa and Michael Strahan on Live!
    Meredith Wilshere, PEOPLE, 14 Sep. 2025
  • The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reached out for comment but was unsuccessful.
    Natalie Eilbert, jsonline.com, 14 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • The team wasn’t able to completely rule out that TRAPPIST-1e is a barren rock like its inner siblings, however, partly because of interference from its hyperactive star.
    Jonathan O'Callaghan, Scientific American, 8 Sep. 2025
  • The local Rite Aid was getting ready to shut down, with barren shelves and 75% off all items, while commerce elsewhere in the town of less than 3,000 people wasn’t exactly bustling.
    David Mark, The Washington Examiner, 5 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • In other words, resistance is futile.
    Mia Sosa, PEOPLE, 15 Sep. 2025
  • If anything, Shock and Awe mostly reminds you how futile living in the madness of a Fake News world can be.
    Will Leitch, Vulture, 13 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • But this more robust communications channel is quite welcome after decades of sterile chatbots and IVR that fail to offer a realistic experience to those trying to reach the top brass of any company anywhere.
    John Werner, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
  • The sterile cockpit rule prohibits pilots from engaging in conversations unrelated to operating the aircraft when flying below 10,000 feet.
    Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • One of the great things about having no ‘position’ anymore is the realization that a platform is actually useless without courage.
    Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 17 Sep. 2025
  • In this context, F-16s can seem useless.
    Rick Bennett, Time, 17 Sep. 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 18 Sep. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on fruitless

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