senseless

adjective

sense·​less ˈsen(t)s-ləs 

: destitute of, deficient in, or contrary to sense: such as

a

: unconscious

knocked senseless

b

: foolish, stupid

it was some senseless practical joke

—A. Conan Doyle

c

: meaningless

a senseless murder

senselessly adverb

senselessness noun

Synonyms

• cold
• insensible
• unconscious

Examples of senseless in a Sentence

Don't be such a senseless idiot!

she collapsed, senseless, after hitting her head

Recent Examples on the Web

But there is not an impulse toward senseless revenge. —Scott Peterson, The Christian Science Monitor, 31 Jan. 2025

With regards to these specific allegations, Dylan was the victim of a senseless act of violence. —Olivia Lloyd, Miami Herald, 30 Jan. 2025

The shooters, some still on the run, fled the scene after the senseless mistaken attack. —Ellen Moynihan, New York Daily News, 29 Jan. 2025

Indeed, how does a company vowing to fight injustice operate in Russia following Vladimir Putin’s senseless February 2022 invasion of Ukraine? —Charlie Campbell, TIME, 28 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1547, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

senseless

adjective

sense·​less ˈsen(t)-sləs 

1

: unconscious entry 1 sense 2

knocked senseless

2

: foolish, stupid

3

: pointless sense 1, meaningless

a senseless act

senselessly adverb

senselessness noun