pointless
Americanadjective
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without a point.
a pointless pen.
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blunt, as an instrument.
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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
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without a point
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without meaning, relevance, or force
-
sport without a point scored
Other Word Forms
- pointlessly adverb
- pointlessness noun
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"
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Unimportant
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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.
Interviewees joke about how inscrutable he is, guess at aspects of his biography, and early on we hear Michaels’ belief that explaining humor is pointless.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 17, 2026
“Outcome maxxing >> token maxxing,” Yamini Rangan, chief executive of software company HubSpot wrote on LinkedIn, expressing a common sentiment that maximizing AI usage is pointless unless it has real returns.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 14, 2026
"For the supporters, it's a complete dead rubber. It is one of the most ridiculous things I've ever heard - it's pointless," was the blunt assessment from former Northern Ireland midfielder Chris Brunt.
From BBC • Mar. 30, 2026
“Realism is all about realizing that in a competitive world, you want to be smart and go for genuine strategic advantage, not just pointless displays of power.”
From Salon • Mar. 10, 2026
Having small powers now seemed totally stupid and pointless.
From "Firegirl" by Tony Abbott
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.
