PURPOSELESS Synonyms: 47 Similar and Opposite Words

purposeless

adjective

Definition of purposeless

as in aimless

having or seeming to have no purpose or reason I have to go to another purposeless meeting tonight. purposeless suffering

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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 purposeless Religion gives meaning to human lives, which otherwise can feel purposeless. — WSJ, 21 Dec. 2021 In How To Do Nothing, Jenny Odell talks about how the pursuit of productivity — driven by capitalism, competition, and consumption — has redirected our attention outward, leaving us feeling empty and purposeless. — refinery29.com, 7 Sep. 2021 Although gender is effectively purposeless—if not irrelevant—in gaming, my brothers reflected society's obsession with forcing others to choose between pink or blue. — Jamie Valentino, Wired, 22 June 2021 These protests are nearly all disingenuous, false and specious, and meant to utilize fear to continue a tragic and purposeless war. — Matthew Hoh, CNN, 17 May 2021 See All Example Sentences for purposeless

Recent Examples of Synonyms for purposeless

Adjective

By the time Blue Bloods wrapped after 293 episodes, Estes’ Jamie had progressed from aimless Harvard graduate, to NYPD rookie, to one of the force’s most venerable sergeants.

— Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Oct. 2026
The constraint of the task encourages a deeper looking, and gives us, part of a society suspicious of aimless activity, an excuse to mess around and explore a strange world.

— Joseph Ogilvy, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Oct. 2026

Definition of aimless

Adjective

Each seemingly meaningless twitch signals a bid worth between $50,000 and $100,000, depending on the auctioneer’s ask.

— Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 30 Oct. 2026
Employees were reportedly running AI agents on meaningless tasks to inflate their token count and climb an unofficial internal AI leaderboard called Kirorank.

— Mia Osmonbekov, Fortune, 28 Oct. 2026

Definition of meaningless

Adjective

After that, Grace all but disappears from Crystal Lake, exposing the haphazard plotting of a show that refuses to commit.

— Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 15 Oct. 2026
Violent crime, once almost unknown on the island, is rising sharply—another sign of the state’s haphazard retreat.

— Will Freeman, Foreign Affairs, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of haphazard

Adjective

There were other, more minor, signs that suggested the Republican senator might be in trouble.

— Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 4 Nov. 2026
In the case of a minor stroke, which is often referred to as a transient ischemic attack or a warning stroke, the person doesn’t suffer lasting effects.

— Livi Stanford, Hartford Courant, 3 Nov. 2026

Definition of minor

Adjective

Here's where the high diesel prices add up tough – what little hay there is, is a lot more expensive to harvest.

— Anna King, NPR, 25 Oct. 2026
The prince didn’t have any luck in blocking Kelce, which comes as little surprise given the Chiefs star knows how to avoid defensive players.

— Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of little

Adjective

Ignore the voices who say your vote is pointless, or that your local races have already been decided.

— Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 1 Nov. 2026
Here are a few examples of why looking for meaning in playoff baseball is pointless.

— Ian Miller OutKick, FOXNews.com, 29 Oct. 2026

Definition of pointless

Adjective

Davis held a slight lead Wednesday, and the race between Murphy and Democratic challenger Raymond Smith was particularly close.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 5 Nov. 2026
The slight gap between the two candidates doesn’t bode well for Bass, since Raman is expected to secure a larger portion of the late-arriving ballots in the coming days.

— Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 4 Nov. 2026

Definition of slight

Browse Nearby Words

purposefulness

purposeless

purposely

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Purposeless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/purposeless. Accessed 7 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of purposeless

adjective

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

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