1
as in impractical
not capable of being put to use or account
a garage full of useless junk
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in futile
producing no results
a useless attempt to reach an agreement
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of useless
Someone else whose very existence was a masterpiece declared all art quite useless.
—
Jackson Arn, The New Yorker, 10 Mar. 2025
How useless high-voltage power lines risk sparking California wildfires
For him, part of the litmus test for how San Jose should proceed will be based on the market’s perception of the agreement and its confidence that PG&E can address the core issues.
—Devan Patel, The Mercury News, 6 Mar. 2025
Traditional border health screening tools, such as temperature checks, quickly proved useless because many of those infected did not show symptoms.
—Edward Alden, Foreign Affairs, 6 Mar. 2025
Landing on the Moon comes with numerous complications, including an often-uneven surface and the lack of an atmosphere, rendering parachutes useless.
—Ars Technica, 18 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for useless
Jackson Arn, The New Yorker, 10 Mar. 2025
How useless high-voltage power lines risk sparking California wildfires
For him, part of the litmus test for how San Jose should proceed will be based on the market’s perception of the agreement and its confidence that PG&E can address the core issues.
—Devan Patel, The Mercury News, 6 Mar. 2025
Traditional border health screening tools, such as temperature checks, quickly proved useless because many of those infected did not show symptoms.
—Edward Alden, Foreign Affairs, 6 Mar. 2025
Landing on the Moon comes with numerous complications, including an often-uneven surface and the lack of an atmosphere, rendering parachutes useless.
—Ars Technica, 18 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for useless
Recent Examples of Synonyms for useless
Adjective
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In regions where extending traditional power lines is costly or impractical, solar microgrids offer a viable, scalable alternative.—
ILYA Likhov,
Forbes.com,
7 Apr. 2025
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These trees provide good wildlife value, so their removal may be both undesirable and impractical, especially since spores can travel on the wind for quite a distance.—
Miri Talabac,
Baltimore Sun,
27 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Impeachment of judges, however, is widely seen as a futile endeavor on Capitol Hill.—
Tara Suter,
The Hill,
3 Apr. 2025
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The confrontation ends in an electric if futile horse chase.—
Amanda Whiting,
Vulture,
23 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Eventually, the battery becomes unusable and typically dies by its 2,000th charge cycle, even as its internal components remain in good shape.—
Troy Aidan Sambajon,
Christian Science Monitor,
1 Apr. 2025
-
The once clear canals flowing into the Bay are now unusable by several residents’ standards.—
Courtney Heath,
Miami Herald,
1 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Last year, Harry’s legal action against the Home Office was unsuccessful and the court initially refused him permission to appeal.—
Christian Edwards,
CNN Money,
8 Apr. 2025
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June became hopeful that the American rescue mission would lead to a reunion with her daughter, but that was unsuccessful.—
Abigail Lee,
Variety,
8 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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If the new wells prove unsuitable for city use, the city has a contingency plan designed for rehabilitation.—
Kyle Martin,
The Mercury News,
25 Mar. 2025
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Until now, scientists have generally thought that planets orbiting white dwarfs would be unsuitable for life because the dynamic temperature decrease of their dead parent star makes their atmospheres too unstable.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
19 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Useless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/useless. Accessed 13 Apr. 2025.
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