as in senselessly
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Recent Examples of pointlessly
Matvei Michkov, rather than sensing the developing danger, pointlessly floated around at the top of the Flyers’ defensive zone.
—
Kevin Kurz, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2026
The kitchen is also pointlessly complicated.
—Jason Fried, The Atlantic, 7 Feb. 2026
Trump should ask himself whether stirring a hornet’s nest serves any purpose other than pointlessly alienating a benevolent neighbor that is beginning to pad its insurance policy by reaching out to non-hemispheric powers.
—Daniel Depetris, Chicago Tribune, 27 Jan. 2026
My partner’s refusal to be comforted by this institutional food struck me sometimes as pointlessly obstructive and at other times as a sign of self-respect.
—Rachel Cusk, New Yorker, 24 Aug. 2025
Few endeavors could signal virtue as pointlessly or gratuitously.
—Peter Tonguette, The Washington Examiner, 8 Aug. 2025
Kevin Kurz, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2026
The kitchen is also pointlessly complicated.
—Jason Fried, The Atlantic, 7 Feb. 2026
Trump should ask himself whether stirring a hornet’s nest serves any purpose other than pointlessly alienating a benevolent neighbor that is beginning to pad its insurance policy by reaching out to non-hemispheric powers.
—Daniel Depetris, Chicago Tribune, 27 Jan. 2026
My partner’s refusal to be comforted by this institutional food struck me sometimes as pointlessly obstructive and at other times as a sign of self-respect.
—Rachel Cusk, New Yorker, 24 Aug. 2025
Few endeavors could signal virtue as pointlessly or gratuitously.
—Peter Tonguette, The Washington Examiner, 8 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pointlessly
Adverb
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Amid this slew of senselessly avoidant, irrational behavior, Duchovny’s performance emerges as the most credible.—
Natalia Winkelman,
IndieWire,
27 Jan. 2026
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Fifteen innocent souls – including a Holocaust survivor, a rabbi and a child – were senselessly murdered while celebrating the first night of Chanukah, the Festival of Light.—
Tracy Wright,
FOXNews.com,
14 Dec. 2025
Adverb
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They can be done imperfectly without being done disastrously.—
Leslie John,
Time,
27 Feb. 2026
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Yet, like Bessette’s relationship with the Kennedy family scion, her eternity band is shrouded in mystery—imperfectly recorded through rumors, second-hand accounts, and myths invented by the press and populace.—
Bailey Bujnosek,
InStyle,
17 Feb. 2026
Adverb
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Even though Cornyn is unpopular among some Republicans for being insufficiently MAGA, the president seems to recognize Paxton’s weakness in a general election—and, according to my colleagues Ashley Parker and Michael Scherer, is planning to give his support to Cornyn, which could help the senator.—
Elaine Godfrey,
The Atlantic,
5 Mar. 2026
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The rematch reflects growing frustration with Foushee among younger, left-leaning voters who view her as insufficiently confrontational, particularly on Israel and outside political spending, in one of the safest Democratic districts in the country.—
Rachel Schilke,
The Washington Examiner,
2 Mar. 2026
Adverb
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Fueling your body inadequately will leave you feeling dissatisfied and undernourished.—
Jamie Johnson,
Verywell Health,
27 Feb. 2026
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Issues such as menopause and perimenopause, endometriosis and Alzheimer’s disease — conditions that exclusively or disproportionately affect women — remain inadequately studied.—
Michelle Kaufman,
Baltimore Sun,
9 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pointlessly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pointlessly. Accessed 20 Mar. 2026.
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