1
: unsuccessful
a fruitless attempt
2
: lacking or not bearing fruit
fruitlessly
adverb
fruitlessness
noun
Synonyms
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
Grammer clarifies the comment about learning his lines, explaining that the script changes so fast, as the writers work non-stop to mine every line for maximum viewer laughter, that memorizing anything is fruitless.
—
Anne Easton, Forbes, 17 Sep. 2024
In the end, Brooke’s struggle reveals a deeper truth: That in a society in which the circumstances of birth still dictate much of one’s fate, the pursuit of fulfillment is fruitless without an honest understanding of the forces that shape and constrain it.
—Tope Folarin, The Atlantic, 12 Sep. 2024
That the lengthy, fruitless probe into Biden by House Republicans warranted a refreshed probe should Trump be elected president again.
—Philip Bump, Washington Post, 8 July 2024
But so far, efforts to engage Moscow in negotiations to open a humanitarian corridor to Russia have been fruitless.
—Dominique Soguel, The Christian Science Monitor, 9 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for fruitless 
Anne Easton, Forbes, 17 Sep. 2024
In the end, Brooke’s struggle reveals a deeper truth: That in a society in which the circumstances of birth still dictate much of one’s fate, the pursuit of fulfillment is fruitless without an honest understanding of the forces that shape and constrain it.
—Tope Folarin, The Atlantic, 12 Sep. 2024
That the lengthy, fruitless probe into Biden by House Republicans warranted a refreshed probe should Trump be elected president again.
—Philip Bump, Washington Post, 8 July 2024
But so far, efforts to engage Moscow in negotiations to open a humanitarian corridor to Russia have been fruitless.
—Dominique Soguel, The Christian Science Monitor, 9 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for fruitless
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'fruitless.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Fruitless.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fruitless. Accessed 1 Oct. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
fruitless
adjective
fruit·less
ˈfrüt-ləs 
1
: not bearing fruit
2
: producing no good results : unsuccessful
a fruitless attempt
fruitlessly
adverb
fruitlessness
noun
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