otiose
adjective
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Otiose was first used in English in the late-18th century to describe things producing no useful result. By mid-19th century, it was being used in keeping with its Latin source otiosus, meaning "at leisure." There is also the noun form otiosity, which predates otiose by approximately three centuries. That noun is rarely found in writing today, but it makes an appearance on the occasional spelling bee word list.
Synonyms
- abortive
- barren
- bootless
- empty
- fruitless
- futile
- ineffective
- ineffectual
- inefficacious
- profitless
- unavailing
- unproductive
- unprofitable
- unsuccessful
- useless
- vain
Example Sentences
Word History
Latin otiosus, from otium leisure
1795, in the meaning defined at sense 1
otiose
adjective
Synonyms & Similar Words
- futile
- useless
- unsuccessful
- unavailing
- ineffectual
- profitless
- abortive
- unprofitable
- meaningless
- bootless
- ineffective
- unproductive
- inefficacious
- vain
- fruitless
- worthless
- in vain
- valueless
- impossible
- insufficient
- pointless
- inadequate
- barren
- empty
- no dice
- hollow
- not worth the candle
- lost
- idle
- of no avail
- hopeless
- unattainable
- counterproductive
- lacking
- no-win
- wanting
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- efficient
- effective
- virtuous
- profitable
- effectual
- productive
- fruitful
- successful
- potent
- meaningful
- worthwhile
- efficacious
- deadly
- sufficient
- adequate
- practical
- feasible
- functional
- applicable
- practicable
- workable
- realizable
- usable
- useable
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of otiose are empty, hollow, idle, nugatory, and vain. While all these words mean "being without worth or significance," otiose suggests that something serves no purpose and is either an encumbrance or a superfluity.
Both empty and hollow suggest a deceiving lack of real substance or soundness or genuineness.
The synonyms idle and otiose are sometimes interchangeable, but idle suggests being incapable of worthwhile use or effect.
Although the words nugatory and otiose have much in common, nugatory suggests triviality or insignificance.
The words vain and otiose are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, vain implies either absolute or relative absence of value.