save one's breath

fruitless hollow impractical ineffective ineffectual insufficient trivial unproductive unprofitable unsuccessful useless vain worthless

abortive barren bootless delusive empty exhausted forlorn idle impracticable in vain no dice nugatory on a treadmill otiose out the window profitless resultless sterile to no avail to no effect to no purpose trifling unavailing unimportant unneeded unreal unsatisfactory unsubstantial valueless

effective fruitful helpful productive profitable successful useful valuable worthwhile

hopeful

barren empty exhausted fruitless idle impractical in vain ineffective ineffectual on a treadmill to no avail to no effect to no purpose trifling trivial unproductive unprofitable unsuccessful useless vain valueless worthless