1
as in impractical
not capable of being put to use or account
a garage full of useless junk
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in futile
producing no results
a useless attempt to reach an agreement
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 useless
For Aram Harrow, a physicist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, that renders the new result useless.
—
Stephen Ornes, Quanta Magazine, 9 June 2025
Widespread jamming by both sides has made satellite navigation almost useless.
—David Hambling, Forbes.com, 29 May 2025
The bad job, the relaxing sabbatical, the useless degree.
—Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 9 June 2025
Through a charmingly off-kilter blend of 2D aesthetics, the film follows a protagonist who, after catching a highly contagious virus, must abandon her work as a personal assistant to a demanding boss and her duties at home with a useless husband and two needy kids.
—Jamie Lang, Variety, 7 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for useless
Stephen Ornes, Quanta Magazine, 9 June 2025
Widespread jamming by both sides has made satellite navigation almost useless.
—David Hambling, Forbes.com, 29 May 2025
The bad job, the relaxing sabbatical, the useless degree.
—Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 9 June 2025
Through a charmingly off-kilter blend of 2D aesthetics, the film follows a protagonist who, after catching a highly contagious virus, must abandon her work as a personal assistant to a demanding boss and her duties at home with a useless husband and two needy kids.
—Jamie Lang, Variety, 7 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for useless
Recent Examples of Synonyms for useless
Adjective
-
Adding more throughput is unwieldy and impractical.—
Steve Banker,
Forbes.com,
13 June 2025
-
Maison Irem Pearl Bow Shoe Charms While swapping standard nylon laces for pearl strands might be an impractical venture, clipping on two little pearl bows at your sneakers’ centers is an effortless maneuver that will pay dividends in sheer beauty.—
Stacia Datskovska,
Footwear News,
29 May 2025
Adjective
-
The researchers said their findings should not suggest afforestation and carbon offsetting are futile.—
Hayley Smith,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2025
-
And beneath that fear lies a corrosive belief that resistance is futile.—
Elisa Manfredini,
Time,
14 June 2025
Adjective
-
The budget store received a yellow placard after inspectors found an unusable bathroom.—
Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado,
Sacbee.com,
27 June 2025
-
These toilets were rarely cleaned and often broken and unusable.—
Jason Pham,
StyleCaster,
5 June 2025
Adjective
-
Barca even took a legal case against the regulations to a Catalan court but were unsuccessful.—
Dermot Corrigan,
New York Times,
19 June 2025
-
Their efforts were unsuccessful, paving the way for Read's retrial this spring.—
Rachel Treisman,
NPR,
18 June 2025
Adjective
-
This is due to the fact that research shows that distilled water, which is what our devices produce before mineralization, may be unsuitable for prolonged consumption.—
Joe Salas
June 09,
New Atlas,
9 June 2025
-
The family-friend label came a cropper after it was slapped with a multi-million-dollar copyright lawsuit by Disney, Warner Bros. and other major Hollywood studios for making unauthorized cuts – of scenes deemed unsuitable for family viewing by the brothers – to their movies and series.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
3 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Useless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/useless. Accessed 3 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share