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
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
They made a fruitless attempt to find a solution. It would be fruitless to continue.
Recent Examples on the Web Henderson came through with Baltimore’s next and last two hits, his go-ahead single and a double that proved fruitless in the eighth. 
Nathan Ruiz, Baltimore Sun, 9 Sep. 2022 George Springer then popped up a pitch down the right field line, but Rob Refsnyder – newly inserted into the game following Pham’s injury – covered just 5,200 feet of the mile needed to reach the ball, and his dive proved fruitless. Alex Speier, BostonGlobe.com, 23 Aug. 2022 CNN Business' own attempts to de-select the OnStar option when pricing a Cadillac Escalade on the Cadillac.com website proved fruitless. Peter Valdes-dapena, CNN, 10 Aug. 2022 The two sides can also reopen settlement talks, but negotiations up until shortly before Robinson’s ruling on Monday proved fruitless. cleveland, 5 Aug. 2022 The early 18th century English idiom refers to investing more resources in a cause that has already proved fruitless. Kate Vitasek, Forbes, 19 July 2022 But the hunt through Key’s papers, archived in Baltimore, proved fruitless. Amy Crawford, Smithsonian Magazine, 7 July 2022 Many Biden administration officials have concluded that talks with China have proved largely fruitless, as have negotiations at the World Trade Organization. New York Times, 23 May 2022 The sheriff’s Marine Patrol Unit, helicopter, K-9 deputies, mounted posse and other resources were involved in the search, but proved fruitless until Tuesday afternoon. Richard Tribou, Orlando Sentinel, 19 Apr. 2022 See More
Nathan Ruiz, Baltimore Sun, 9 Sep. 2022 George Springer then popped up a pitch down the right field line, but Rob Refsnyder – newly inserted into the game following Pham’s injury – covered just 5,200 feet of the mile needed to reach the ball, and his dive proved fruitless. Alex Speier, BostonGlobe.com, 23 Aug. 2022 CNN Business' own attempts to de-select the OnStar option when pricing a Cadillac Escalade on the Cadillac.com website proved fruitless. Peter Valdes-dapena, CNN, 10 Aug. 2022 The two sides can also reopen settlement talks, but negotiations up until shortly before Robinson’s ruling on Monday proved fruitless. cleveland, 5 Aug. 2022 The early 18th century English idiom refers to investing more resources in a cause that has already proved fruitless. Kate Vitasek, Forbes, 19 July 2022 But the hunt through Key’s papers, archived in Baltimore, proved fruitless. Amy Crawford, Smithsonian Magazine, 7 July 2022 Many Biden administration officials have concluded that talks with China have proved largely fruitless, as have negotiations at the World Trade Organization. New York Times, 23 May 2022 The sheriff’s Marine Patrol Unit, helicopter, K-9 deputies, mounted posse and other resources were involved in the search, but proved fruitless until Tuesday afternoon. Richard Tribou, Orlando Sentinel, 19 Apr. 2022 See More Word History
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Kids Definition
fruitless
adjective
fruit·less ˈfrüt-ləs
1
: not bearing fruit
fruitless trees
2
: unsuccessful
a fruitless search
fruitless
adjective
1
as in futile
producing no results this argument is totally fruitless, as neither of us will change our position Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- futile
- unsuccessful
- useless
- unavailing
- vain
- abortive
- unprofitable
- profitless
- unproductive
- ineffective
- ineffectual
- in vain
- impossible
- worthless
- meaningless
- bootless
- insufficient
- pointless
- barren
- inefficacious
- lost
- empty
- inadequate
- otiose
- no dice
- valueless
- not worth the candle
- hollow
- hopeless
- of no avail
- idle
- counterproductive
- lacking
- unattainable
- no-win
- wanting
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- successful
- fruitful
- effective
- efficient
- profitable
- productive
- worthwhile
- virtuous
- deadly
- meaningful
- potent
- sufficient
- effectual
- efficacious
- adequate
- practical
- feasible
- applicable
- workable
- functional
- usable
- practicable
- useable
- realizable
2
as in sterile
not able to produce fruit or offspring a stand of blighted, fruitless trees Synonyms & Similar Words
- sterile
- barren
- unfruitful
- impotent
- sterilized
- infertile
- altered
- unproductive
- neutered
- emasculated
- castrated
- desexed
- spayed
- gelded
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- fruitful
- productive
- fertile
- fat
- prolific
- rich
- enriched
- luxuriant
- pregnant
- fecund
- potent
- bearing
- impregnated
- producing
- yielding
- fertilized
- flourishing
- bursting
- blooming
- teeming
- swarming
Synonym Chooser
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
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
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