1
as in unsuccessful
producing no results
this argument is totally fruitless, as neither of us will change our position
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in barren
not able to produce fruit or offspring
a stand of blighted, fruitless trees
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of fruitless
Both teams had early, fruitless power plays, and both teams had scoring chances that just barely didn’t pan out.
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Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 22 Dec. 2025
But in the end, all efforts proved fruitless.
—Lauren Huff, Entertainment Weekly, 18 Dec. 2025
Yet as Blue Devils guard Caleb Foster gathered the ball from Fland’s grasp, over two hours of clawing proved fruitless.
—Noah White, Miami Herald, 3 Dec. 2025
Multiple search operations for the plane have been conducted since then but all proved fruitless.
—Reuters, NBC news, 3 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fruitless
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fruitless
Adjective
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But her appeal was unsuccessful.—
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Industry lobbying unsuccessful to date Some advocates for the restaurant industry have been lobbying to change the way service fees are treated.—
Adjective
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In the 19th century, guano miners razed the place, removing most of the topsoil and leaving behind barren rock.—
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The next two teams on this list find themselves in eerily similar situations, from barren rosters to enviable cap space to hope at the quarterback position.—
Adjective
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But the rally felt less threatening than futile.—
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And this is asking that question, how are these people finding meaning and purpose in their lives that feel so oppressive and futile?—
Adjective
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This makes your home feel intentional and personal instead of sterile and unoriginal.—
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Many japonica camellias, in the manner of other botanical hybrids, are sterile with their yellow, thread-like stamens and stigmas either absent or invisible.—
Adjective
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Brown’s statement on Monday was mostly useless corporate-speak.—
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This tiny amount of copper acts as a molecular steering wheel, preventing sugar molecules from shattering into useless carbon dioxide.—
Adjective
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Mitchell spent 10 years preaching, racking up unfruitful notes from church growth conferences, and eventually started struggling with depression.—
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Its lease had run out, and negotiations proved unfruitful.—
Cite this Entry
“Fruitless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fruitless. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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