useless

adjective

use·​less ˈyüs-ləs How to pronounce useless (audio)
: having or being of no use:
a
: ineffectual
a useless attempt
b
: not able to give service or aid : inept
uselessly adverb
uselessness noun

Examples of useless in a Sentence

The tent is useless in wet conditions. I made a useless attempt at fixing the leak. Drugs are useless in treating the condition.
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.
Front offices None of the rest of this matters if the boss is useless. Eric Stephens, The Athletic, 3 Jan. 2025 However, operating under the cynical assumption that nothing can be done, your vote is useless or that people in charge do not care will only sink us further into a world of hate, division and depression. Claire Foley, Baltimore Sun, 2 Jan. 2025 After saving as many players as possible during Red Light, Green Light, his inside knowledge of the games is quickly rendered useless when new ones are introduced. Proma Khosla, IndieWire, 27 Dec. 2024 Most of the road signage was rendered useless, and there were precious few locals out at this hour. New Atlas, 24 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for useless 

Word History

First Known Use

1593, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of useless was in 1593

Dictionary Entries Near useless

Cite this Entry

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

Kids Definition

useless

adjective
use·​less ˈyüs-ləs How to pronounce useless (audio)
: having or being of no use
uselessly adverb
uselessness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on useless

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!