: having or being of no use:
a
: ineffectual
a useless attempt
b
: not doing or not able to do what is needed
a dull, useless knife
An antibiotic is useless in treating this disease.
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
From certain side sections, the rear screen was nearly useless.
—
Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 30 Apr. 2026
Technically impressive, yes—but scientifically and commercially useless.
—Magnus Resch, ARTnews.com, 27 Apr. 2026
In a generally useless exercise, NFL draft analysts have delivered their annual grades.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 26 Apr. 2026
What also follows is a useless debate over the cultural impact of the movie amid concerns that the film is a little loose with the truth or outright forgetful about key moments of Jackson’s complex and complicated life.
—Leonard Greene, New York Daily News, 25 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for useless
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Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 30 Apr. 2026
Technically impressive, yes—but scientifically and commercially useless.
—Magnus Resch, ARTnews.com, 27 Apr. 2026
In a generally useless exercise, NFL draft analysts have delivered their annual grades.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 26 Apr. 2026
What also follows is a useless debate over the cultural impact of the movie amid concerns that the film is a little loose with the truth or outright forgetful about key moments of Jackson’s complex and complicated life.
—Leonard Greene, New York Daily News, 25 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for useless
Cite this Entry
“Useless.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/useless. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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