fruitless
4 synonyms and 6 antonyms for fruitless, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adjective — Producing no useful result; unsuccessful.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
sleeveless
bootless
Synonyms by Meaning
1. adjective
Producing no useful result; unsuccessful.
“They spent a fruitless afternoon searching for the missing keys.”
Opposites
How to use fruitless
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
a fruitless search
fruitless effort
fruitless negotiations
Etymology
From Middle English fruytles, built from fruit plus -less, "without."
Full origin of fruitless →Frequently asked questions
What does “fruitless” mean?
The word “fruitless” means producing no useful result; unsuccessful. In plain terms, producing no result, or literally, bearing no fruit.
How do you pronounce “fruitless”?
“Fruitless” is pronounced FROOT-luhs (/ˈfɹutləs/ in IPA).
How do you use “fruitless” in a sentence?
Here is “fruitless” used in a sentence: “They spent a fruitless afternoon searching for the missing keys.”
What part of speech is “fruitless”?
“Fruitless” is an adjective.
Where does the word “fruitless” come from?
The word “fruitless” comes from Middle English. From Middle English fruytles, built from fruit plus -less, "without.".
How many meanings does “fruitless” have?
“Fruitless” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: producing no useful result; unsuccessful.
