| Main Entry: | futile |
| Part of Speech: | adjective |
| Definition: | hopeless, pointless |
Synonyms: |
abortive, barren, bootless, delusive, empty, exhausted, forlorn, fruitless, hollow, idle, impracticable, impractical, in vain, ineffective, ineffectual, insufficient, no dice, nugatory, on a treadmill, otiose, out the window, profitless, resultless, save one's breath, sterile, to no avail, to no effect, to no purpose, trifling, trivial, unavailing, unimportant, unneeded, unproductive, unprofitable, unreal, unsatisfactory, unsubstantial, unsuccessful, useless, vain, valueless, worthless |
Antonyms: |
fruitful, hopeful, productive, profitable |
| Main Entry: | abortive |
| Part of Speech: | adjective |
| Definition: | failing to achieve a goal |
Synonyms: |
failed, failing, fruitless, futile, ineffective, ineffectual, miscarried, unavailing, unproductive, unsuccessful, useless, vain, worthless |
Antonyms: |
complete, consummated, effectual, efficient, fruitful, productive, successful |
| Main Entry: | barren |
| Part of Speech: | adjective |
| Definition: | unprofitable |
Synonyms: |
dull, flat, fruitless, futile, lackluster, profitless, stale, uninspiring, unproductive, unrewarding, useless, vain, vapid |
Antonyms: |
developing, growing, productive, profitable |
| Main Entry: | desperate |
| Part of Speech: | adjective |
| Definition: | hopeless |
Synonyms: |
at end of one's rope, back to the wall, can't win, dead duck, despairing, despondent, desponding, downcast, forlorn, futile, gone*, goner, hard up, in the soup, in the toilet, inconsolable, irrecoverable, irremediable, irretrievable, no-chance, no-way, no-win, running out of time, sad, sunk, up against it, up the creek, useless, vain, wretched |
Antonyms: |
hopeful |
| Main Entry: | empty |
| Part of Speech: | adjective |
| Definition: | fruitless, ineffective |
Synonyms: |
aimless, banal, barren, cheap, dead, deadpan, devoid, dishonest, dumb, expressionless, fatuous, flat, frivolous, futile, hollow, idle, ignorant, inane, ineffectual, inexpressive, insincere, insipid, jejune, meaningless, nugatory, otiose, paltry, petty, purposeless, senseless, silly, trivial, unintelligent, unreal, unsatisfactory, unsubstantial, vacuous, vain, valueless, vapid, worthless |
Antonyms: |
abundant, copious, effective, fruitful, productive, sufficient |
| Main Entry: | feckless |
| Part of Speech: | adjective |
| Definition: | without purpose |
Synonyms: |
aimless, carefree, careless, feeble, fustian, futile, good-for-nothing, hopeless, incautious, incompetent, ineffective, ineffectual, irresponsible, meaningless, reckless, shiftless, uncareful, useless, weak, wild, worthless |
| Notes: | feckless means ineffective or having no real worth or purpose; reckless means marked by unthinking boldness or with defiant disregard for danger or consequences |
Antonyms: |
competent, effective, effectual, efficient, purposeful, responsible, strong, useful |
| Main Entry: | forlorn |
| Part of Speech: | adjective |
| Definition: | hopeless, inconsolable |
Synonyms: |
abandoned, alone, bereft, blue*, cheerless, comfortless, cynical, defenseless, depressed, deserted, desolate, despairing, desperate, despondent, destitute, destroyed, disconsolate, down and out, dragging, forgotten, forsaken, friendless, fruitless, futile, godforsaken, helpless, homeless, in the dumps, lonely, lonesome, lost, miserable, oppressed, pathetic, pessimistic, pitiable, pitiful, solitary, tragic, unhappy, vain, weighed down, woebegone, wretched |
Antonyms: |
cheerful, comforted, consolable, happy, hopeful, joyful, pleased |
| Main Entry: | fruitless |
| Part of Speech: | adjective |
| Definition: | bringing no advantage, product |
Synonyms: |
abortive, barren, empty, futile, gainless, idle, in vain, ineffective, ineffectual, infertile, pointless, profitless, spinning one's wheels, sterile, to no avail, to no effect, unavailable, unavailing, unfruitful, unproductive, unprofitable, unprolific, unsuccessful, useless, vain, wild goose chase |
Antonyms: |
copious, fruitful, plentiful, potent, productive, profitable, successful, useful |
| Main Entry: | hollow |
| Part of Speech: | adjective |
| Definition: | meaningless |
Synonyms: |
empty, fruitless, futile, idle, nugatory, otiose, pointless, specious, unavailing, useless, vain, worthless |
Antonyms: |
earnest, meaningful, sincere, substantial |
| Main Entry: | idle |
| Part of Speech: | adjective |
| Definition: | worthless, ineffective |
Synonyms: |
abortive, bootless, empty, frivolous, fruitless, futile, groundless, hollow, insignificant, irrelevant, not serious, nugatory, of no avail, otiose, pointless, rambling, superficial, trivial, unavailing, unhelpful, unnecessary, unproductive, unsuccessful, useless, vain |
Antonyms: |
effective, important, productive, worthwhile |