as in sterile
not able to produce fruit or offspring
disappointed to discover that the mare was unfruitful
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Recent Examples of unfruitful
But the chances of the conviction being overturned are slim, and the decision to fight the charges against him to the bitter end—in contrast to Ellison and the other coconspirators—may continue to prove an unfruitful one.
—
Joel Khalili, WIRED, 24 Sep. 2024
One social media user argued that, despite her own decision not to listen to Brown’s music, his critics’ efforts to deter others to do the same have largely proven unfruitful.
—Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 3 Sep. 2019
In order to save yourself a frustrating, unfruitful trip to the DMV, double check all of your necessary documentation before going to the office.
—Reece Rogers, WIRED, 3 July 2024
Saturn won’t waste your time with unfruitful adventures.
—Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 18 Mar. 2024
See All Example Sentences for unfruitful
Joel Khalili, WIRED, 24 Sep. 2024
One social media user argued that, despite her own decision not to listen to Brown’s music, his critics’ efforts to deter others to do the same have largely proven unfruitful.
—Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 3 Sep. 2019
In order to save yourself a frustrating, unfruitful trip to the DMV, double check all of your necessary documentation before going to the office.
—Reece Rogers, WIRED, 3 July 2024
Saturn won’t waste your time with unfruitful adventures.
—Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 18 Mar. 2024
See All Example Sentences for unfruitful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unfruitful
Adjective
-
Some varieties are sterile and do not produce fruit.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
27 June 2025
-
Much of the factory was supposed to be as sterile as an operating room.—
Debbie Cenziper,
CNN Money,
20 June 2025
Adjective
-
Richards’ finish saved the U.S. in what was otherwise a listless appearance in front of a barren home crowd at Austin FC’s Q2 Stadium.—
Paul Tenorio,
New York Times,
20 June 2025
-
Transatlantic flights from northern Europe — London, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Copenhagen — routinely cross the southern half of the island, the bright, barren ice sheet often visible for up to an hour of cruising speed.—
Morten Høi Jensen,
The Dial,
19 June 2025
Adjective
-
Hours have passed on the boat, and again and again our casts have been fruitless.—
Boyce Upholt,
Smithsonian Magazine,
25 June 2025
-
The paths for Iranian leaders are threefold: attempt to continue negotiations, seek to de-escalate the fighting with major concessions, possibly after a few demonstration attacks, or assume that negotiations with Trump and/or Netanyahu are fruitless and go all in on military retaliation.—
Michael Lynch,
Forbes.com,
22 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Unfruitful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unfruitful. Accessed 4 Jul. 2025.
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