fruitless
Americanadjective
-
useless; unproductive; without results or success.
a fruitless search for the missing treasure.
- Synonyms:
- vain, unavailing, futile
- Antonyms:
- profitable, useful
-
bearing no fruit; barren.
- Synonyms:
- sterile
- Antonyms:
- fertile
adjective
-
yielding nothing or nothing of value; unproductive; ineffectual
-
without fruit
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of fruitless
Middle English word dating back to 1300–50; see origin at fruit, -less
Explanation
Fruitless things are futile or pointless. If your search for your missing car keys is fruitless, you don't find them no matter how hard you look. You can call a fruitless search a wild goose chase — despite your efforts, you're unsuccessful. If you spend a fruitless afternoon applying for jobs, you end up without a single offer, and if your attempt to get your dog and cat to be pals is fruitless, they end up hating each other just as much as they ever did. The adjective fruitless comes from the sense of "unproductive" or "without profit," like a fruit tree that doesn't grow any fruit.
Vocabulary lists containing fruitless
Power Suffix: -less
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"Rogue Wave" by Theodore Taylor
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Twelfth Night
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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.
Other members of his sales team burned out on fruitless cold calls, but McDermott said he would skip leisurely, expensive lunches with co-workers to pack in more calls and sales meetings.
From MarketWatch • Mar. 18, 2026
Rosie, with help from husband Chris, took the court action after months of what she described as "fruitless" emails and complaints.
From BBC • Mar. 11, 2026
The airline's union for flight attendants issued a "no confidence" vote in Isom, while the pilots's union amplified a demand to meet with American's board of directors after describing conversations alone with management as fruitless.
From Barron's • Feb. 10, 2026
While the ex-love of my life was back with her ex-beau in Michigan enjoying Mackinac Island fudge, I was ready to bury all regret and rethink my vow over a fruitless bowl of steel-cut oats.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 6, 2026
Argument was fruitless once the name of Santini was invoked, both boys knew that, and both knew that if they continued to milk the issue they were merely inviting calamity.
From "The Great Santini" by Pat Conroy
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.
