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.

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

From Salon • Apr. 9, 2026

She followed her father’s dictums on health: Modern medicine was nearly useless, and the “good body” would heal itself.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 31, 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

They bounced back from the 17th-century revolution, when the Lords was abolished by a law that declared it "useless and dangerous to the people of England".

From BBC • Mar. 13, 2026

“I’d offer to help with dinner,” Uncle Phil says,“but I only know how to grill burgers. I’m useless at cooking anything else.”

From "I Can Make This Promise" by Christine Day

Vocabulary lists containing useless

Good Riddance

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Talk Like Shakespeare Day, List 8

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