useless

[yoos-lis] / ˈyus lɪs /

ADJECTIVE

not working; not valuable

Synonyms

STRONGEST

counterproductive fruitless futile hopeless idle impractical incompetent ineffective ineffectual inoperative meaningless no good pointless stupid unproductive unworkable worthless

WEAK

abortive bootless disadvantageous dysfunctional expendable feckless good-for-nothing impracticable inept inutile nonfunctional of no use profitless purposeless scrap unavailable unavailing unfunctional unprofitable unpurposed unusuable vain valueless waste weak

Antonyms

STRONGEST

effective fruitful hopeful meaningful productive profitable sensible useful valuable worthwhile

WEAK

helpful usable working

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Worries about inflation have caused some seniors to stampede into gold instead, even though that is highly speculative, functionally useless and pays no dividends at all.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 10, 2026

Diminishing the hurt from people who have been directly affected by gun violence is a useless, cruel task.

From Salon • Apr. 9, 2026

“If you develop a wonderful protocol,” she told Time, “it’s useless if nobody uses it.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

The illustration showed a cow proudly standing next to a strange collection of useless objects labeled as tools.

From Science Daily • Mar. 26, 2026

I’m useless in the temple’s library, memorizing passage upon passage of boring scripture, but out here on these lawns, I come alive.

From "Beasts of Prey" by Ayana Gray

Vocabulary lists containing useless

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