fruitless

[froot-lis]

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adjective

useless; unproductive; without results or success: a fruitless search for the missing treasure.
bearing no fruit; barren.

Origin of fruitless

Middle English word dating back to 1300–50; see origin at fruit, -less

Related formsfruit·less·ly, adverbfruit·less·ness, noun

Synonyms

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1. futile, unavailing, vain. 2. sterile.

Antonyms

1. useful, profitable. 2. fertile.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for fruitless

Contemporary Examples

The latter had had a lovely if fruitless game, running rings around the U.S. defense but failing, repeatedly, to score.
Team USA Goes Down Swinging in 2-1 World Cup Loss to Belgium
Tunku Varadarajan
July 1, 2014
"My pre-emptive action of hand shaking was fruitless," Hatami said, explaining the kiss.
The Kiss That Sent Iran Crazy and an Actress to Be Flogged in Public
IranWire
May 23, 2014
My search was fruitless, and after a while I gave it up and came back to find Mr. Wilde squatting on his high chair by the table.
Read ‘The King in Yellow,’ the ‘True Detective’ Reference That’s the Key to the Show
Robert W. Chambers
February 20, 2014
Let's wait to see if both top diplomats make it to that table before declaring diplomacy a fruitless exercise.
Rouhani at the U.N.—Disappointment or Success?
Ali Gharib
September 25, 2013
With Watergate closing in, Nixon fired Haldeman and Ehrlichman in a fruitless effort to insulate himself.
The Nixon Home Movies: Glimpses of Tragedy in ‘Our Nixon’
Eleanor Clift
August 24, 2013

Historical Examples

The owners of the factory wasted no time in fruitless sorrow.
Cleveland Past and Present
Maurice Joblin
I must thank you that I did not take a fruitless journey into Bristol.
Micah Clarke
Arthur Conan Doyle
He foresaw that any attempt at exculpation would be as fruitless as dangerous.
Gomez Arias
Joaqun Telesforo de Trueba y Coso
Christians around us living a sickly, feeble, fruitless life!
The Ministry of Intercession
Andrew Murray
It was mere sophistry, and deceiving, fruitless, and unprofitable.
Selections from the Table Talk of Martin Luther
Martin Luther

British Dictionary definitions for fruitless

fruitless

adjective

yielding nothing or nothing of value; unproductive; ineffectual
without fruit

Derived Formsfruitlessly, adverbfruitlessness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for fruitless

adj.

mid-14c., "unprofitable," from fruit + -less. Meaning "barren, sterile" is from 1510s. Related: Fruitlessly.

fruitless

Origin of .css-1fxfie5{font-size:22px;}@media (max-width:768px){.css-1fxfie5{font-size:18px;margin:0 10px 10px 0;word-break:break-all;word-wrap:break-word;-webkit-hyphens:auto;-moz-hyphens:auto;-ms-hyphens:auto;hyphens:auto;line-height:22px;}}fruitless

Synonyms

Antonyms

Examples from the Web for fruitless

Contemporary Examples

The latter had had a lovely if fruitless game, running rings around the U.S. defense but failing, repeatedly, to score.

"My pre-emptive action of hand shaking was fruitless," Hatami said, explaining the kiss.

My search was fruitless, and after a while I gave it up and came back to find Mr. Wilde squatting on his high chair by the table.

Let's wait to see if both top diplomats make it to that table before declaring diplomacy a fruitless exercise.

With Watergate closing in, Nixon fired Haldeman and Ehrlichman in a fruitless effort to insulate himself.

Historical Examples

The owners of the factory wasted no time in fruitless sorrow.

I must thank you that I did not take a fruitless journey into Bristol.

He foresaw that any attempt at exculpation would be as fruitless as dangerous.

Christians around us living a sickly, feeble, fruitless life!

It was mere sophistry, and deceiving, fruitless, and unprofitable.

fruitless

Word Origin and History for fruitless

adj.

Origin of fruitless