1
as in impractical
not capable of being put to use or account
a garage full of useless junk
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of useless
Besides, no one speaks Arabic, including the useless union rep Antonio (Nando Pérez), who’s clearly a tool of the owner.
—
Jay Weissberg, Variety, 19 May 2026
In other words, Greg had thought insomnia a problem of the rich, the weak, the useless, the indulgent, the lazy.
—Weike Wang, New Yorker, 17 May 2026
Most of the sun’s highest-energy light hits a leaf and instantly turns into useless heat.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 14 May 2026
No useless buzzwords or graphs.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 12 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for useless
Jay Weissberg, Variety, 19 May 2026
In other words, Greg had thought insomnia a problem of the rich, the weak, the useless, the indulgent, the lazy.
—Weike Wang, New Yorker, 17 May 2026
Most of the sun’s highest-energy light hits a leaf and instantly turns into useless heat.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 14 May 2026
No useless buzzwords or graphs.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 12 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for useless
Recent Examples of Synonyms for useless
Adjective
-
Physical storage, custody and transportation can make direct ownership impractical for many companies.—
Anthony Milewski,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
-
May's first-quarter moon in Virgo is here to shed light on what's impractical or no longer sustainable.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
22 May 2026
Adjective
-
The series follows an upstanding family man who spirals into a life of crime after killing someone in a bicycle accident, driven by the noble but futile goal of never hurting anyone ever again.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
17 May 2026
-
But this story has a happier, less futile ending.—
Deborah Treisman,
New Yorker,
17 May 2026
Adjective
-
For a limited time, former Spirit loyalty members can use their unusable Spirit points for pizza at Papa Johns.—
Erin Clements,
PEOPLE,
8 May 2026
-
Authorities slow internet speeds until services become unusable.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
4 May 2026
Adjective
-
Attempts to interview him were unsuccessful.—
Sierra van der Brug,
Daily News,
28 May 2026
-
Trump has denied Carroll’s allegations against him and tried to appeal both verdicts but has been unsuccessful in both cases, putting him on the verge of having to pay out millions.—
Alison Durkee,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
Adjective
-
There are significant worries that AI can readily go off the rails or otherwise dispense unsuitable or even egregiously inappropriate mental health advice.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
23 May 2026
-
Musk attempted to color Altman as a uniquely unsuitable supervisor of this technology, but this invariably invited further scrutiny into his own abject unfitness for the role.—
Gideon Lewis-Kraus,
New Yorker,
20 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Useless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/useless. Accessed 30 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
