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useless

adjective

ˈyüs-ləs How to pronounce useless (audio)
Definition of uselessnext
1
as in impractical
not capable of being put to use or account a garage full of useless junk

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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 However, this doesn’t mean the devices are completely useless. — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 2 Sep. 2026 Leading models aren’t completely useless at handling Cantonese. — Nicholas Gordon, Fortune, 27 Aug. 2026 Which meant that masks were always going to be useless, as pre-pandemic planning research had already confirmed. — Ian Miller Outkick, FOXNews.com, 26 Aug. 2026 Likewise, politicians who cannot find consensus and pass legislation are useless. — Gary Franks, Hartford Courant, 24 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for useless
Recent Examples of Synonyms for useless
  1. impractical
  2. futile
  3. unusable
  4. unsuccessful
  5. unsuitable
Adjective
  • The denominator includes greater speed, capacity and outputs that were once impractical.
    — Hemant Kapadia, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2026
  • The shoes, which consist of little more than a leather heel cap laced around the foot, feel almost deliberately impractical.
    — Amy Francombe, Vogue, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of impractical
Adjective
  • It’s also brilliantly written as a futile, pathetic rebellion by men with zero agency or purpose in their own lives.
    — Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 17 Sep. 2026
  • Not that Georgian masculinity, with its macho, bellicose posturing and archaic codes of honor, is portrayed as anything other than fumbling and futile.
    — Jessica Kiang, Variety, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of futile
Adjective
  • Founded in 2022, The Alloy Market makes money by either refining unusable materials and taking a cut, or by listing usable items on their online resale marketplace.
    — Liz Knueven, CNBC, 23 Sep. 2026
  • That helped the operation keep switching infrastructure as domains became unusable.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of unusable
Adjective
  • Kasdin said, up to now, efforts to negotiate with the residents on Fifth Street have been unsuccessful.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 25 Sep. 2026
  • Coulter, Hatten, Jones and McMichales all brought unsuccessful challenges against Wilson during last April’s municipal election.
    — Olivia Stevens, Chicago Tribune, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of unsuccessful
Adjective
  • Guy acknowledges, though, that this could lead to the level of chaos depicted in a memorable 2009 episode of The Office, where staff show up in an array of unsuitable outfits.
    — Chloe Veltman, NPR, 28 Aug. 2026
  • That could allow geothermal projects to operate in locations that have traditionally been considered unsuitable for geothermal development.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of unsuitable

Browse Nearby Words

usefulness
useless
uselessness
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Useless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/useless. Accessed 26 Sep. 2026.

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