Synonym Chooser

How is the word fruitless different from other adjectives like it?

The words futile and vain are common synonyms of fruitless. While all three words mean "producing no result," fruitless comes close to vain but often suggests long and arduous effort or severe disappointment.

fruitless efforts to obtain a lasting peace

When might futile be a better fit than fruitless?

The words futile and fruitless are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, futile may connote completeness of failure or unwisdom of undertaking.

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

When can vain be used instead of fruitless?

The words vain and fruitless can be used in similar contexts, but vain usually implies simple failure to achieve a desired result.

a vain attempt to get the car started

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of fruitless The strikes during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which health officials said killed more than 320 people, followed weeks of fruitless negotiations. Alexis Simendinger, The Hill, 18 Mar. 2025 Each team had a fruitless power play in the scoreless first period, with the goalies stealing the show. Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 14 Mar. 2025 Nikki’s dogged review of all of the park footage the night of Tim’s murder seems fruitless until Elsbeth spots a notable, minor detail. Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 13 Mar. 2025 However, for every success, there’s a flop; despite injury setbacks, former teammate Anthony Martial endured a fruitless spell at Sevilla. Henry Flynn, Forbes, 20 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for fruitless
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fruitless
Adjective
  • June became hopeful that the American rescue mission would lead to a reunion with her daughter, but that was unsuccessful.
    Abigail Lee, Variety, 8 Apr. 2025
  • Last year, Harry’s legal action against the Home Office was unsuccessful and the court initially refused him permission to appeal.
    Christian Edwards, CNN Money, 8 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Charlie Parker’s Favorite Painting (1946) indicates Abercrombie’s engagement with social issues: a yellow noose, nearly fluorescent against a dishwater sky, dangles from a barren tree—an oblique lament from the doggedly antiracist Abercrombie.
    Jeremy Lybarger, ARTnews.com, 26 Mar. 2025
  • Meanwhile, the patch of skin to the ’22 trophy’s left looks almost barren.
    Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 25 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Impeachment of judges, however, is widely seen as a futile endeavor on Capitol Hill.
    Tara Suter, The Hill, 3 Apr. 2025
  • The confrontation ends in an electric if futile horse chase.
    Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 23 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Her dance team performances were supplanted with physical therapy, and high school classrooms replaced with sterile examination rooms.
    Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 22 Mar. 2025
  • That's due in large part to Chad's fragile health system and is compounded by the many Chadian women who don't have access to a safe and sterile place to deliver.
    Ari Daniel, NPR, 19 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • For most of us, our inbox goals are the same: minimize useless spam, file away messages that don’t require your attention right away, and bring urgent items to the forefront.
    Aytekin Tank, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2025
  • His devastating splitter would be useless without first establishing everything else in the strike zone.
    Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 6 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • After a brief and unfruitful stint as a scout for the major league Milwaukee Brewers in the early 1970s, Uecker moved to the radio booth.
    Joseph Wilkinson, New York Daily News, 16 Jan. 2025
  • Some new grads have expressed frustration with lengthy and unfruitful job searches and questioned whether their work earning a degree was worth it.
    Jamie Merisotis, Forbes, 30 Oct. 2024

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Cite this Entry

“Fruitless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fruitless. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.

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