pointless
adjective
point·less
ˈpȯint-ləs 
1
: devoid of meaning : senseless
a pointless remark
2
: devoid of effectiveness : flat
pointless attempts to be funny
pointlessly
adverb
pointlessness
noun
Examples of pointless in a Sentence
It would be pointless for us to continue the investigation.
a pointless remark that left everyone scratching their heads in confusion
Recent Examples on the Web
Hitler is so fully imagined a subject—so obsessively present on our televisions and in our bookstores—that to reimagine him seems pointless.
—
Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 18 Mar. 2024
In the weeks and months after that costly, pointless election, lawmakers in Sacramento considered ways to overhaul the recall process, which has aged poorly since its conception more than a century ago.
—Mark Z. Barabak, The Mercury News, 3 Mar. 2024
Checking the weather forecast was pointless: rain could appear — or disappear — at any moment.
—Paul Brady, Travel + Leisure, 23 Mar. 2024
This omission is understandable: such efforts seem pointless as long as Chinese leaders are unwilling to subscribe to any stable status quo that constrains their ambitions.
—Michael J. Mazarr, Foreign Affairs, 9 Feb. 2024
Here’s what this week’s Apple developments mean for you:
The pointless brawl over the Apple Watch
Masimo, a medical technology company, has been saying for years that the Apple Watch ripped off Masimo’s technology to measure blood-oxygen levels.
—Shira Ovide, Washington Post, 18 Jan. 2024
My brother, for example, likes to play pointless jokes on cashiers and restaurant staff.
—Jacobina Martin, Washington Post, 13 Mar. 2024
If Peacock really wanted to get some Emmys, maybe a pointless second season of Apples Never Fall should be announced right now?
—Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 13 Mar. 2024
Motorola’s recent budget phones have been held back by lackluster designs, pointless extra cameras, and underwhelming feature sets.
—Allison Johnson, The Verge, 12 Mar. 2024
Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 18 Mar. 2024
In the weeks and months after that costly, pointless election, lawmakers in Sacramento considered ways to overhaul the recall process, which has aged poorly since its conception more than a century ago.
—Mark Z. Barabak, The Mercury News, 3 Mar. 2024
Checking the weather forecast was pointless: rain could appear — or disappear — at any moment.
—Paul Brady, Travel + Leisure, 23 Mar. 2024
This omission is understandable: such efforts seem pointless as long as Chinese leaders are unwilling to subscribe to any stable status quo that constrains their ambitions.
—Michael J. Mazarr, Foreign Affairs, 9 Feb. 2024
Here’s what this week’s Apple developments mean for you:
The pointless brawl over the Apple Watch
Masimo, a medical technology company, has been saying for years that the Apple Watch ripped off Masimo’s technology to measure blood-oxygen levels.
—Shira Ovide, Washington Post, 18 Jan. 2024
My brother, for example, likes to play pointless jokes on cashiers and restaurant staff.
—Jacobina Martin, Washington Post, 13 Mar. 2024
If Peacock really wanted to get some Emmys, maybe a pointless second season of Apples Never Fall should be announced right now?
—Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 13 Mar. 2024
Motorola’s recent budget phones have been held back by lackluster designs, pointless extra cameras, and underwhelming feature sets.
—Allison Johnson, The Verge, 12 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'pointless.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Articles Related to pointless
Dictionary Entries Near pointless
Cite this Entry
“Pointless.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pointless. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
pointless
adjective
point·less
ˈpȯint-ləs
1
: lacking meaning : senseless
a pointless remark
2
: ineffective sense 1
pointless attempts to be funny
pointlessly
adverb
pointlessness
noun
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