Dictionary

pointless en · ADJ

Pronunciation

• /ˈpɔɪntləs/
• (US) audio
• pointʹləs

Etymology

From Middle English pointles, poynteles, poyntlees. By surface analysis, point + -less.

Meanings

1. Having no point or sharp tip; terminating squarely or in a rounded end.
   • a pointless knife
   • a pointless sword
2. Having no prominent or important feature, as of an argument, discourse, etc.
   • The sequel to the film was even more pointless than the original
   • a pointless remark
   • Even the numerous drunkards and beggars seemed to be in a hurry, stumbling from one side of the street to the other with pointless resolution or, with businesslike expeditiousness, soliciting money and food from strangers. 2017, Hernan Diaz, In the Distance, Daunt Books (2018), page 304:
3. Having no purpose; purposeless; unable to effect an aim.
   • The latter, however, showed in the 1890s that the issue had become pointless, as by then no power could arrest the development of capitalism and the decline of the obshchina. 1978 [1976], Leszek Kołakowski, translated by P[aul] S[teven] Falla, Main Currents of Marxism, volume II: The Golden Age, Oxford: Clarendon Press, translation of Główne nurty marksizmu: rozwój (in Polish), →ISBN, →OCLC, page 324:
   • Since the decision has already been made, further discussion seems pointless.
4. Having no points
   • After four matches and four defeats, United remain pointless at the foot of the table.
5. Without points.
   • a pointless topology
6. (derogatory) Point-free; employing the tacit programming paradigm.

Forms

Antonyms

useful (antonym(s) of “having no purpose”) · pointed (antonym(s) of “not sharp”) · pointful (antonym(s) of “having no purpose”) · worthwhile (antonym(s) of “having no purpose”) · sharp (antonym(s) of “not sharp”)

Deriveds

pointless topology · pointlessness · pointlessly

Synonyms

dull (having no point or tip) · obtuse (having no point or tip) · redundant (having no purpose) · point-free · needless (having no purpose) · superfluous (having no purpose) · futile (having no purpose) · blunt (having no point or tip) · purposeless (having no purpose)

Translations (60)

be бессэнсо́ўны (having no purpose) · be бессэнсо́ўны (having no prominent or important feature) · bg безсми́слен (having no purpose) · fi tylsä (having no point or sharp tip) · ru бесцельный (having no purpose) · mi huhuakore (having no purpose) · ru бессмы́сленный (having no prominent or important feature) · pt desapontado (having no point or sharp tip) · es sin punta (having no point or sharp tip) · be бязглу́зды (having no prominent or important feature) · mi makihoi (having no purpose) · pt sem ponta (having no point or sharp tip) · ru бессмы́сленный (having no purpose) · bg тъп (having no point or sharp tip) · eo senkiala (having no purpose) · de sinnlos (having no purpose) · sv meningslös (having no prominent or important feature) · fi turha (having no purpose) · sv poänglös (having no purpose) · sv trubbig (having no point or sharp tip) · de irrelevant (having no prominent or important feature) · lv bezjēdzīgs (having no purpose) · fr inutile (having no purpose) · ru тупой (having no point or sharp tip) · de stumpf (having no point or sharp tip) · mi moumou (having no purpose) · sv meningslös (having no purpose) · be бязглу́зды (having no purpose) · eo sensenca (having no purpose) · de witzlos (having no purpose) · es chato (having no point or sharp tip) · fr obtus (having no point or sharp tip) · bg безсми́слен (having no prominent or important feature) · ga fánach (having no purpose) · es no tener punto (having no purpose) · de zwecklos (having no purpose) · mi papakore (having no purpose) · grc μάταιος (having no purpose) · pl bezsensowny (having no purpose) · lt bereikšmis (having no prominent or important feature) · izh turha (having no purpose) · fr vain (having no purpose) · lv bezjēdzīgs (having no prominent or important feature) · uk безглу́здий (having no prominent or important feature) · nl zinloos (having no purpose) · hy անիմաստ (having no purpose) · la vānus (having no purpose) · mi kikokore (having no purpose) · es romo (having no point or sharp tip) · mi mūhore (having no purpose) · pt inútil (having no purpose) · mi maumau (having no purpose) · uk безглу́здий (having no purpose) · de unnütz (having no purpose) · pl bezcelowy (having no purpose) · pl bez sensu (having no purpose) · mhr арам (having no purpose) · ar بدون جدوى (having no purpose) · de gegenstandslos (having no prominent or important feature) · got 𐌷𐌰𐌻𐌺𐍃 (having no purpose)