going nowhere

absurd aimless fruitless futile impotent inconsequential ineffective ineffectual insignificant irrelevant meaningless powerless silly stupid trivial unnecessary unproductive useless worthless

around in circles in vicious circle inane needle in haystack nongermane nonsensical not pertinent on treadmill purportless remote unavailing uninteresting unprofitable vague vain

able consequential effective fruitful important necessary potent productive profitable sensible significant strong useful valuable wise worthwhile

beneficial meaningful pointed

frivolous fruitless petty trivial

abortive barren bootless delusive delusory empty hollow idle in vicious circle inefficacious insignificant misleading no-win not a prayer nugatory on a treadmill otiose paltry pointless profitless puny senseless shuck slight sterile time-wasting trifling unavailing unimportant unnotable unproductive unprofitable valueless void worthless

consequential important significant useful

modest possible shy