fruitless

adjective

fruit·​less ˈfrüt-ləs 

1

: unsuccessful

a fruitless attempt

2

: lacking or not bearing fruit

fruitlessly adverb

fruitlessness noun

Synonyms

• abortive
• barren
• bootless
• empty
• futile
• ineffective
• ineffectual
• inefficacious
• otiose
• profitless
• unavailing
• unproductive
• unprofitable
• unsuccessful
• useless
• vain

Choose the Right Synonym for fruitless

futile, vain, fruitless mean producing no result.

futile may connote completeness of failure or unwisdom of undertaking.

resistance had proved so futile that surrender was the only choice left

vain usually implies simple failure to achieve a desired result.

a vain attempt to get the car started

fruitless comes close to vain but often suggests long and arduous effort or severe disappointment.

fruitless efforts to obtain a lasting peace

Examples of fruitless in a Sentence

They made a fruitless attempt to find a solution.

It would be fruitless to continue.

Recent Examples on the Web

Their fruitless journeys to Anfield span 31 years and 28 top-flight visits, with their only Premier League victory coming in April 1994 under Kevin Keegan. —Chris Waugh, The Athletic, 26 Feb. 2025

All the Council would have done is wasted time and money on a fruitless effort. —New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 11 Feb. 2025

But after two decades of fruitless wars that drained American resources and destabilized vital regions, political leadership requires prioritizing core national interests, not endlessly underwriting the security of dependents. —Reid Smith, Foreign Affairs, 3 Feb. 2025

But my husband cut him out and Dad was left for years making fruitless communication attempts via email, voice messages — even snail mail. —Gillian Telling, People.com, 16 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English fruytles, frutles, from fruyt, frut fruit entry 1 + -les -less

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for fruitless

• bootless
• rootless

Kids Definition

fruitless

adjective

fruit·​less ˈfrüt-ləs 

1

: not bearing fruit

2

: producing no good results : unsuccessful

a fruitless attempt

fruitlessly adverb

fruitlessness noun