aimless

adjective

aim·​less ˈām-ləs 

: without aim or purpose : not having a goal or purpose

… we would not get to sit on the verandah drinking cold beer at the end of the day, starting up aimless conversations with other couples …

—Alexandra Kennedy

Some years, you feel that nothing much is being made except plotless tales about aimless young people wasting time …

—Robin Buss

The wind blew, the shad were nowhere to be found, even steady use of our fish locator and aimless trolling around the lakes failed to provoke a single strike.

—Steve Davis

aimlessly adverb

… whenever they had the chance, he and Zave would climb the steep streets and walk aimlessly beneath the arching trees, looking at the mansions.

—James A. Michener

aimlessness noun

… my friends are all prematurely successful in their worthwhile, absorbing careers, and I am frightening my parents and maybe even myself with my aimlessness.

—Daphne Uviller

Synonyms

• arbitrary
• catch-as-catch-can
• desultory
• erratic
• haphazard
• helter-skelter
• hit-or-miss
• random
• scattered
• slapdash
• stray

Examples of aimless in a Sentence

he enjoyed taking aimless walks through the park

Recent Examples on the Web

Irsay pushed Ehlinger into the lineup during the disastrous 2022 season, but by the end of that campaign — one that began with Matt Ryan at the helm — the Colts found themselves in a familiar spot: aimless at the most important position on the field. —Zak Keefer, The Athletic, 2 Jan. 2025

Having a list also saves time by minimizing aimless browsing in stores or online. —True Tamplin, Forbes, 2 Jan. 2025

This includes the aimless storyline of Jun-ho and the mercenary team sailing around trying to find the game island now that Gi-hun’s tracker died. —Paul Tassi, Forbes, 28 Dec. 2024

Anfield was growing restless, with a succession of aimless crosses being slung into the penalty area. —James Pearce, The Athletic, 27 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1583, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

aimless

adjective

aim·​less

ˈām-ləs

: lacking a goal or purpose

aimless wandering

aimlessly adverb

aimlessness noun