There's boondoggle and busywork.
Answer from Matt Eckert on Stack ExchangePower Thesaurus
powerthesaurus.org › pointless_task › synonyms
POINTLESS TASK Synonyms: 125 Similar Phrases
AboutPRO MembershipExamples of SynonymsTermsPrivacy & Cookie Policy · Lists · Parts of speech · Tags · useless task · noun · meaningless task · noun · pointless job · noun · meaningless job · noun · futile task · noun · absurd ...
Power Thesaurus
powerthesaurus.org › useless_task › synonyms
USELESS TASK Synonyms: 110 Similar Phrases
Find 110 synonyms for Useless Task to improve your writing and expand your vocabulary.
How is the word 'futile' different from other adjectives like it?
The words fruitless and vain are common synonyms of futile. While all three words mean "producing no result," futile may connote completeness of failure or unwisdom of undertaking.
// resistance had proved so futile that surrender was the only choice left
merriam-webster.com
merriam-webster.com › thesaurus › futile
FUTILE Synonyms: 116 Similar and Opposite Words | Merriam-Webster ...
How do 'fruitless' and 'vain' relate to one another, in the sense of 'futile'?
Fruitless comes close to vain but often suggests long and arduous effort or severe disappointment.
// fruitless efforts to obtain a lasting peace
merriam-webster.com
merriam-webster.com › thesaurus › futile
FUTILE Synonyms: 116 Similar and Opposite Words | Merriam-Webster ...
When could 'vain' be used to replace 'futile'?
The words vain and futile 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
merriam-webster.com
merriam-webster.com › thesaurus › futile
FUTILE Synonyms: 116 Similar and Opposite Words | Merriam-Webster ...
Merriam-Webster
merriam-webster.com › thesaurus › useless
USELESS Synonyms: 108 Similar and Opposite Words | Merriam-Webster Thesaurus
4 days ago - Synonyms for USELESS: impractical, unusable, unsuitable, unworkable, impracticable, unserviceable, inoperable, unavailable; Antonyms of USELESS: useful, practical, feasible, usable, functional, applicable, operational, workable
Power Thesaurus
powerthesaurus.org › meaningless_task › synonyms
MEANINGLESS TASK Synonyms: 121 Similar Phrases
AboutPRO MembershipExamples of SynonymsTermsPrivacy & Cookie Policy · Lists · Parts of speech · pointless task · noun · meaningless job · noun · meaningless work · noun · useless task · noun · futile task · noun · insignificant ...
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USELESS Synonyms & Antonyms - 118 words | Thesaurus.com
Find 118 different ways to say USELESS, along with antonyms, related words, and example sentences at Thesaurus.com.
WordHippo
wordhippo.com › what-is › another-word-for › pointless.html
What is another word for pointless? | Pointless Synonyms - WordHippo Thesaurus
Synonyms for pointless include meaningless, senseless, fruitless, futile, useless, aimless, inane, unavailing, unproductive and worthless. Find more similar words at wordhippo.com!
Merriam-Webster
merriam-webster.com › thesaurus › futile
FUTILE Synonyms: 116 Similar and Opposite Words | Merriam-Webster Thesaurus
3 weeks ago - Synonyms for FUTILE: unsuccessful, useless, unavailing, fruitless, vain, ineffective, in vain, unprofitable; Antonyms of FUTILE: successful, effective, efficient, profitable, fruitful, productive, worthwhile, virtuous
Reddit
reddit.com › r/english › sisyphus related idiom
r/ENGLISH on Reddit: Sisyphus related idiom
June 5, 2023 -
Hi English speakers! Just out of curiosity, is there any idiom in English related to the myth of Sisyphus? More specifically, some term that you'd use to describe pointless or repetitive duty?
Top answer 1 of 5
33
There’s the word Sisyphean. We refer to Sisyphean tasks.
2 of 5
24
It’s not even an idiom, you can actually use ‘Sisyphean’ as an adjective. Related ‘pointless task’ idioms, each with their own nuance might include flogging a dead horse wasting your breath preaching to the choir reinventing the wheel Ones where it’s ‘making a lot of effort with no effect’ might be banging your head against a brick wall wading through treacle like herding cats one step forward two steps back (Edit to add: some of these are British and may not be known in the US)
Thesaurus.com
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UNIMPORTANT Synonyms & Antonyms - 86 words | Thesaurus.com
Synonyms · STRONGEST · frivolous immaterial inconsequential insignificant irrelevant meaningless negligible null trivial unnecessary useless worthless ·
Power Thesaurus
powerthesaurus.org › useless_activities › synonyms
Useless Activities synonyms - 32 Words and Phrases for Useless Activities
unavailing tasks · unprofitable endeavors · worthless engagements · empty pursuits · unfit activities · n. bad activities · n. futile act · n. useless task · n. meaningless quests · purposeless pursuits · empty endeavors · fruitless ...
Collins Dictionary
collinsdictionary.com › us › dictionary › english-thesaurus › pointless
Synonyms of POINTLESS | Collins American English Thesaurus
Synonyms for POINTLESS: senseless, absurd, aimless, fruitless, futile, inane, irrelevant, meaningless, silly, stupid, …
WordHippo
wordhippo.com › what-is › another-word-for › useless.html
What is another word for useless? | Useless Synonyms - WordHippo Thesaurus
Synonyms for useless include ineffectual, impractical, futile, hopeless, ineffective, pointless, inefficacious, unproductive, worthless and inutile. Find more similar words at wordhippo.com!
Cambridge Dictionary
dictionary.cambridge.org › us › thesaurus › useless
USELESS - 67 Synonyms and Antonyms - Cambridge English
This knife is useless for cutting bread. It's useless to speculate what might have been. ... Synonyms for useless from Random House Roget's College Thesaurus, Revised and Updated Edition © 2000 Random House, Inc.
Vocabulary.com
vocabulary.com › dictionary › pointless
Pointless - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms | Vocabulary.com
Don't sweat the small stuff! This list covers words for things that are forgettable, unnecessary, or a waste of time. For more synonym lists, explore our Say What You Mean resources.
YourDictionary
thesaurus.yourdictionary.com › home › useless
Useless Synonyms: 65 Synonyms and Antonyms for Useless | YourDictionary.com
Synonyms for USELESS: futile, ineffectual, vain, inutile, unavailing, unusable, fruitless, worthless, unprofitable; Antonyms for USELESS: efficient, usable, operative, useful, usable, valuable, helpful, working, worthwhile.
Thesaurus.com
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POINTLESS Synonyms & Antonyms - 81 words | Thesaurus.com
aimless beside the point blunt blunter dull dull duller duller extraneous flat frivolous fruitless hollow hopeless idle inadvisable inane inept insignificant insipid inutile irrelevant irremediable meaningless moronic most insignificant needless neither here nor there no-account no-good purposeless ...
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UNNECESSARY Synonyms & Antonyms - 54 words | Thesaurus.com
Synonyms · STRONGEST · avoidable futile gratuitous irrelevant needless redundant superfluous unneeded useless worthless ·
Merriam-Webster
merriam-webster.com › thesaurus › unnecessary
UNNECESSARY Synonyms: 30 Similar and Opposite Words | Merriam-Webster Thesaurus
2 weeks ago - Synonyms for UNNECESSARY: extra, optional, needless, irrelevant, nonessential, unwarranted, redundant, dispensable; Antonyms of UNNECESSARY: necessary, essential, important, required, needed, crucial, vital, needful
Synonym Tech
synonym.tech › phrase › useless › task
Useless task - synonyms for phrase
Synonyms for phrase Useless task. Phrase thesaurus through replacing words with similar meaning of Useless and Task