to no purpose

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 save one's breath sterile to no avail to no effect 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 save one's breath to no avail to no effect trifling trivial unproductive unprofitable unsuccessful useless vain valueless worthless