Definitions

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.

Speaking on his podcast, The Useless Hotline Podcast, he said: "I had a pinched nerve all week in my back. I had acupuncture."

From BBC • Oct. 10, 2025

The hour's title is drawn from Booth's reported last words: "Useless, useless, useless," he is said to have mumbled while staring at his hands.

From Salon • Apr. 15, 2024

Useless to people, most thorn scrub has been removed as agriculture, urbanization and the border wall consume much of southern Texas’s landscape.

From Scientific American • Sep. 4, 2023

Branson is a canine guardian angel in his own right: He owns a company that uses specially trained dogs to search for pets, and he heads a nonprofit called Useless Bay Sanctuary that rescues strays.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 25, 2022

He’d shake his head slowly, as if to say, Useless.

From "Native Speaker" by Chang-rae Lee

Vocabulary lists containing useless

Good Riddance

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Beowulf vocabulary

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Talk Like Shakespeare Day, List 8

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