Synonyms for useless
- adjective
Most common
Synonyms by meaning
Adjective
1. Unusable — without use or the possibility to be used
unusable, ineffectual, futile, unuseful, vain, unserviceable, unavailing, unprofitable, inoperative, nugatory, inutile, unutilizable
2. Worthless — good-for-nothing; not dependable
worthless, superfluous, meaningless, fruitless, ineffective, unnecessary, good-for-nothing, impotent, void, inept, needless, abortive, tired, feckless, idle, null, trashy, no-account informal UK US, stultifying, unskillful, unskilful UK, bootless, otiose
Other
Definitions
- adj. 1
Without use or the possibility to be used.
This fork's prongs are bent. It's useless now.
- adj. 2
Good-for-nothing; not dependable.
Bill never mows the lawn, takes out the trash or anything. He's useless, but I love him anyways.
Related words
- Word family
- uselessly uselessness
Choose the right word
That which is useless, futile, or vain is inherently incapable of accomplishing a specified result. Useless, in the widest sense, signifies not of use for any valuable purpose, and is thus closely similar to valueless and worthless.
J. C. Fernald, English Synonyms and Antonyms (1914)
Example sentences
- futile When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
- unusable This table is unusable since it is missing a leg.
- ineffectual My efforts seemed ineffectual.
- meaningless Absolutely meaningless; everything is meaningless.
- superfluous I agree that the feelings are indeed superfluous.
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| useless | steady | |
| futile | steady | |
| unusable | steady | |
| ineffectual | steady | |
| unuseful | steady | |
| meaningless | steady |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 3 letters
- wet1
- 4 letters
- void1, vain1, idle2, null1
- 5 letters
- tired2, inept2
- 6 letters
- futile2, trashy2, otiose3
- 7 letters
- inutile
- 8 letters
- needless2, unusable4, impotent3, abortive3, feckless2, bootless, nugatory4, unuseful
- 9 letters
- worthless2, fruitless2, unskilful
- 10 letters
- unavailing4, unskillful
- 11 letters
- unnecessary5, meaningless3, ineffective4, superfluous3, ineffectual5, inoperative5, stultifying4
- 12 letters
- unprofitable5, unutilizable
- 13 letters
- unserviceable5
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (idle2 = 2 syllables).