Synonym Chooser

How is the word otiose distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of otiose are empty, hollow, idle, nugatory, and vain. While all these words mean "being without worth or significance," otiose suggests that something serves no purpose and is either an encumbrance or a superfluity.

a film without a single otiose scene

How do empty and hollow relate to one another, in the sense of otiose?

Both empty and hollow suggest a deceiving lack of real substance or soundness or genuineness.

an empty attempt at reconciliation
a hollow victory

When might idle be a better fit than otiose?

The synonyms idle and otiose are sometimes interchangeable, but idle suggests being incapable of worthwhile use or effect.

idle speculations

When is it sensible to use nugatory instead of otiose?

Although the words nugatory and otiose have much in common, nugatory suggests triviality or insignificance.

a monarch with nugatory powers

When could vain be used to replace otiose?

The words vain and otiose are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, vain implies either absolute or relative absence of value.

vain promises

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for otiose
Adjective
  • This advocacy, however, proved futile.
    Time, Time, 20 Oct. 2025
  • False accusations cannot be rebutted, and any attempt to secure compensation or correction through the courts is futile; no open debate is allowed in the domain of thought and art.
    Jonny Diamond, Literary Hub, 10 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Romo was starting to describe how Mahomes was complaining about the attempt being unsuccessful when he was interrupted by the Chiefs running the ball and picking up the first down.
    Jayna Bardahl, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2025
  • However, the shooting was unsuccessful and Alex suffered only superficial wounds.
    Samantha Stutsman, PEOPLE, 18 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • But to borrow Manidis’s framework, the drive to create such a tool conflates useless toil with meaningful labor.
    Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 20 Oct. 2025
  • The rules of grammar were useless now, and never truly rules.
    Sam Lipsyte, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2025
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.

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Cite this Entry

“Otiose.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/otiose. Accessed 26 Oct. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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