meaningless

adjective

mean·​ing·​less ˈmē-niŋ-ləs How to pronounce meaningless (audio)
1
: having no meaning
especially : lacking any significance
2
: having no assigned function in a language system
meaninglessly adverb
meaninglessness noun

Examples of meaningless in a Sentence

He felt that his work was meaningless. The movie was filled with meaningless violence.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Irsay joined his team in the locker room following Sunday’s win that, in the grand scheme of things, was meaningless. James Boyd, The Athletic, 6 Jan. 2025 Almost two years later, Rodgers’ jerseys at Dick’s Sporting Goods are marked 50% off in anticipation of his departure following Sunday’s meaningless game against the Dolphins (8-8). Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 5 Jan. 2025 Why press your luck and play out a meaningless game? Dieter Kurtenbach, The Mercury News, 5 Jan. 2025 No sense in exposing top talents to further injury in a meaningless game. Dan Perry, Newsweek, 4 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for meaningless 

Word History

First Known Use

1796, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of meaningless was in 1796

Dictionary Entries Near meaningless

Cite this Entry

“Meaningless.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/meaningless. Accessed 15 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

meaningless

adjective
mean·​ing·​less ˈmē-niŋ-ləs How to pronounce meaningless (audio)
1
: having no meaning or significance
meaningless chatter
2
: lacking motive
a meaningless murder
meaninglessly adverb
meaninglessness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on meaningless

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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