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Synonyms

bootless

American  
[boot-lis] / ˈbut lɪs /

adjective

  1. without result, gain, or advantage; unavailing; useless.


bootless British  
/ ˈbuːtlɪs /

adjective

  1. of little or no use; vain; fruitless

    a bootless search

"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

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of bootless

before 1000; Middle English bot ( e ) les, Old English bōtlēas unpardonable. See boot 2, -less

Vocabulary lists containing bootless

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.

See Examples For:

“In the Court’s view, characterization of defendant’s previous and threatened future actions as dilatory, in bad faith or unduly prejudicial would be a bootless exercise. They are, in varying degrees, all three,” he said.

From Seattle Times Mar. 11, 2022

Daniel Snyder, having turned a proud franchise into a creepy, predatory and bootless operation, does one thing with wicked effectiveness: manipulate hope.

From Washington Post Sep. 2, 2020

Well, here we are again, standing bootless in the snow during a crisis.

From Salon May 10, 2020

In fact, another of that band’s hits seemed more appropriate to these bootless proceedings: the one called “Why?”

From New York Times Jan. 13, 2015

The Hessians, completely disheveled, unbuttoned, bootless, listened intently.

From "The Fighting Ground" by Avi

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