pointless
Americanadjective
-
without a point.
a pointless pen.
-
blunt, as an instrument.
-
without force, meaning, or relevance.
a pointless remark.
- Synonyms:
- ineffectual, futile, unproductive, meaningless
-
without a point scored, as in a game.
a pointless inning.
adjective
-
without a point
-
without meaning, relevance, or force
-
sport without a point scored
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of pointless
First recorded in 1300–50, pointless is from Middle English point les. See point, -less
Explanation
If something's pointless, it has no use or makes no sense. Telling yourself that it's pointless to be nervous every time you fly on a plane probably won't solve your fear of flying. Taking standardized tests in school often feels pointless, and an even more pointless exercise might be listening to your best friends argue about which 1970s rock band was the greatest. When something has a useful purpose or a good reason to exist, it has a point — and when it doesn't, it's pointless. You can also use this adjective to mean "dull" or "blunt."
Vocabulary lists containing pointless
Never Mind: Synonyms for "Meaningless"
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Unimportant
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
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.
Being worried about a law that would make such a thing perfectly legal is a pointless distraction.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026
Passing sentence, Judge Lord Scott said Kayden Moy's death was "pointless and unnecessary".
From BBC ● Jul. 21, 2026
All-hands meeting, especially when you are a new employee, can seem pointless.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 9, 2026
“It’s pointless commenting on hypothetical situations,” Algeria head coach Vladimir Petkovic said at the time.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 2, 2026
Sela sifted through her beads while I picked green flakes of paint from the table in a pointless attempt to keep my mouth shut.
From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
