purposeless

[ pur-puhs-lis ]

/ ˈpɜr pəs lɪs /

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See synonyms for: purposeless / purposelessly on Thesaurus.com

adjective

having no purpose or apparent meaning.

having no aim or goal; aimless: to lead a purposeless existence.

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Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of purposeless

First recorded in 1545–55; purpose + -less

OTHER WORDS FROM purposeless

pur·pose·less·ly, adverbpur·pose·less·ness, noun

Words nearby purposeless

purportedly, purpose, purpose-built, purposeful, purposefully, purposeless, purposely, purposive, purpresture, purpura, purpure

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use purposeless in a sentence

The key to getting into this state seemed to be the purposeless way in which the day unfolded.
8 ‘insignificant’ creatures that will make you dream about the ocean|Craig Foster and Ross Frylinck|December 1, 2021|Popular-Science
I watched another three episodes, thinking it might just be a slow start—but no, the amiable, purposeless loafing continues.
Yes, ‘Looking’ Is Boring. It’s the Drama Gays Deserve.|Tim Teeman|January 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Early critics called it "a strange, inartistic story" with "purposeless power."
Battle of the Brontes|Jennie Yabroff|March 14, 2011|DAILY BEAST
Early critics called it 'a strange, inartistic story' with 'purposeless power.'
Battle of the Brontes|Jennie Yabroff|March 14, 2011|DAILY BEAST

This motion consists almost wholly in apparently purposeless lashing and coiling movements, and continues for many hours.
A Manual of Clinical Diagnosis|James Campbell Todd
His mind with all its sternness ever tended to clemency, and his constitutional prudence, or measure, forbade purposeless excess.
King Robert the Bruce|A. F. Murison
I am sure that the English soldiers, thoughtless though they may be, would not stoop to this sort of purposeless outrage.
The Relief of Mafeking|Filson Young
A cynical, purposeless, brooding life he must live to his last day: there was no healing in all the world for his despair.
The Cruise of the Shining Light|Norman Duncan
As he advanced he perceived that the church grew in size, but to him that deceptive harmony seemed purposeless, reprehensible.
The conquest of Rome|Matilde Serao

British Dictionary definitions for purposeless

purposeless

/ (ˈpɜːpəslɪs) /

adjective

having no fixed plan or intention

Derived forms of purposeless

purposelessly, adverbpurposelessness, 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

purposeless

Origin of purposeless

OTHER WORDS FROM purposeless

Words nearby purposeless

Words related to purposeless

How to use purposeless in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for purposeless

Derived forms of purposeless