fruitless

adjective

fruit·​less ˈfrüt-ləs 

1

: unsuccessful

a fruitless attempt

2

: lacking or not bearing fruit

fruitlessly adverb

fruitlessness noun

Synonyms

• abortive
• barren
• bootless
• empty
• futile
• ineffective
• ineffectual
• inefficacious
• otiose
• profitless
• unavailing
• unproductive
• unprofitable
• unsuccessful
• useless
• vain

Choose the Right Synonym for fruitless

futile, vain, fruitless mean producing no result.

futile may connote completeness of failure or unwisdom of undertaking.

resistance had proved so futile that surrender was the only choice left

vain usually implies simple failure to achieve a desired result.

a vain attempt to get the car started

fruitless comes close to vain but often suggests long and arduous effort or severe disappointment.

fruitless efforts to obtain a lasting peace

Examples of fruitless in a Sentence

They made a fruitless attempt to find a solution.

It would be fruitless to continue.

Recent Examples on the Web

Everyone gets a bit dark: Buffy stabs Faith while Giles attempts to stab the mayor, but their efforts are fruitless, and the mayor transforms into a demon. —Marianne Eloise, Vulture, 11 June 2025

While there’s no real penalty to dipping out of a fight — other than losing experience and valuable items — sessions can frequently feel fruitless. —Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 28 May 2025

But his attempts to sell lawmakers on stadiums proved fruitless — at least for now. —Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 15 May 2025

President Donald Trump‘s $20 billion lawsuit over 60 Minutes‘ handling of an interview with Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris, has gone to a thus-far fruitless mediation process. —Dade Hayes, Deadline, 5 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English fruytles, frutles, from fruyt, frut fruit entry 1 + -les -less

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for fruitless

• bootless
• rootless

Kids Definition

fruitless

adjective

fruit·​less ˈfrüt-ləs 

1

: not bearing fruit

2

: producing no good results : unsuccessful

a fruitless attempt

fruitlessly adverb

fruitlessness noun