Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Useless
Use′less
,Adj.
Having, or being of, no use; unserviceable; producing no good end; answering no valuable purpose; not advancing the end proposed; unprofitable; ineffectual;
as, a
. useless
garment; useless
pityNot to sit idle with so great a gift
Useless
, and thence ridiculous. Milton.
Syn. – Fruitless; ineffectual.
–
Useless
, Fruitless
, Ineffectual
. We speak of an attempt, effort, etc., as being useless when there are in it inherent difficulties which forbid the hope of success, as fruitless when it fails, not from any such difficulties, but from some unexpected hindrance arising to frustrate it; as, the design was rendered
. Ineffectual nearly resembles fruitless, but implies a failure of a less hopeless character; fruitless
by the death of its projectoras, after several
. ineffectual
efforts, I at last succeededUseless
are all wordsTill you have writ “performance” with your swords.
The other is for waiving.
Beau. & Fl.
Waiving all searches into antiquity, in relation to this controversy, as being either needless or
fruitless
. Waterland.
Even our blessed Savior’s preaching, who spake as never man spake, was
– ineffectual
to many. Bp. Stillingfleet.
Use′less-ly
, adv.
Use′less-ness
, Noun.
Webster 1828 Edition
Useless
U'SELESS
,Adj.
Definition 2024
useless
useless
English
Adjective
useless (comparative uselesser or more useless, superlative uselessest or most useless)
- Without use or possibility to be used.
- This fork has prongs that are bent. It's useless now.
- Unhelpful, not useful; pointless (of an action).
- I think it's useless to keep this discussion going. It's like talking to a wall.
- I tried my best to make him quit smoking, but my efforts were useless. He now smokes six packs a day.
- (pejorative, of a person) good-for-nothing; not dependable.
- Bill never mows the lawn, takes out the trash or anything. He's useless, but I love him anyways.
- (colloquial, of a person) unable to do well at a particular task or thing. Useless is mildly insulting.
- My brother is useless at most computer games, but he is an awesome PS2 player.
- Why do you keep trying? You're obviously useless at it.
Synonyms
- (good-for-nothing): good-for-nothing
- (unable to do well): unskillful
Antonyms
Derived terms
Translations
without use or possibility to be used
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unhelpful, pointless
good-for-nothing, not dependable
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unable to do well
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