Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

Thesaurus

otiose

adjective

Synonyms and Antonyms of otiose

producing no results

  • since you haven't read the book, I suppose that it would be otiose to inquire what you thought of it
Synonyms of otiose

abortive, barren, bootless, empty, fruitless, futile, ineffective, ineffectual, inefficacious, profitless, unavailing, unproductive, unprofitable, unsuccessful, useless, vain
Words Related to otiose

hollow, idle, meaningless, pointless, valueless, worthless

hopeless, impossible, lost, no-win, unattainable

inadequate, insufficient, lacking, wanting

counterproductive
Phrases Synonymous with otiose

in vain, no dice, not worth the candle, of no avail
Near Antonyms of otiose

meaningful, worthwhile

adequate, sufficient

applicable, feasible, functional, practicable, practical, realizable, usable (also useable), workable
Antonyms of otiose

deadly, effective, effectual, efficacious, efficient, fruitful, potent, productive, profitable, successful, virtuous

Synonym Discussion of otiose

vain, nugatory, otiose, idle, empty, hollow mean being without worth or significance. vain implies either absolute or relative absence of value.
    • vain promises
nugatory suggests triviality or insignificance.
    • a monarch with nugatory powers
otiose suggests that something serves no purpose and is either an encumbrance or a superfluity.
    • a film without a single otiose scene
idle suggests being incapable of worthwhile use or effect.
    • idle speculations
empty and hollow suggest a deceiving lack of real substance or soundness or genuineness.
    • an empty attempt at reconciliation
    • a hollow victory

Learn More about otiose

  1. See words that rhyme with otiose Dictionary: Definition of otiose Britannica English: Translation of otiose for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up otiose? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show comments hide comments

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

WORD OF THE DAY

milieu

the setting in which something occurs

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. Spartan Red Cross Warns of Shelter Conditions

  2. hirsute RIP Burt Reynolds

  3. op-ed NYT Publishes Anonymous Piece

  4. collegiality Kavanaugh Mentions Word in Hearing

  5. mistrial Manafort Guilty on 8 Counts

SEE ALL

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games