useless
/yoo͞s′lĭs/
adjective
- Being or having no beneficial use; ineffective: synonym: futile. This pen is useless because it's out of ink.
- Having no purpose or reason; pointless; to no avail. It's useless to argue over matters of taste.
- Incapable of acting or functioning effectively; ineffectual or inept. He panics easily and is useless in an emergency.
Merriam-Webster
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USELESS Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster
1 week ago - The meaning of USELESS is having or being of no use. How to use useless in a sentence.
Cambridge Dictionary
dictionary.cambridge.org › us › dictionary › english › useless
USELESS | definition in the Cambridge English Dictionary
3 weeks ago - 1. of no use; not working or not achieving what is needed: 2. not at all good…
Vocabulary.com
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Useless - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms | Vocabulary.com
Use this adjective when nothing is working and there is no hope of improvement. Less means "without." So something that is useless has no use or value, at least at the present time.
Videos
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Dictionary.com
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USELESS Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com
USELESS definition: of no use; not serving the purpose or any purpose; unavailing or futile. See examples of useless used in a sentence.
Collins Dictionary
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USELESS definition in American English | Collins English Dictionary
If you say that someone or something is useless, you mean that they are no good at all.
Published March 26, 2018
Thesaurus.com
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USELESS Synonyms & Antonyms - 118 words | Thesaurus.com
Words related to useless are not direct synonyms, but are associated with the word useless. Browse related words to learn more about word associations. abortive barren crappier crappy crummy desperate discarded dispensable dissatisfactory feckless fruitless futile good-for-nothing hollow hopeless idle impossible impotent impractical impractical/impracticable incompetent incorrigible inefficacious inessential irremediable meaningless more desperate more impracticable more impractical more impractical more worn more worn more worn out more worn out more worn-out more worn-out more wornout more w
Oxford Learner's Dictionaries
oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › us › definition › english › useless
useless adjective - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage notes | Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary at OxfordLearnersDictionaries.com
She tried to work, but it was useless (= she wasn't able to).
Oxford English Dictionary
oed.com › dictionary › useless_adj
useless, adj. & n. meanings, etymology and more | Oxford English Dictionary
There are six meanings listed in OED's entry for the word useless.
Wordsmyth
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useless | definition for kids | Wordsmyth Word Explorer Children's Dictionary; WILD dictionary K-2 | Wordsmyth
having no good or practical purpose.... See the full definition
Urban Dictionary
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Urban Dictionary: useless
June 12, 2004 - Do you see that crane fly over there? "We should kill it" Crane flies are useless and don't even consume mosquito eaters.
Reverso
dictionary.reverso.net › english-definition › useless
USELESS - Definition & Meaning - Reverso English Dictionary
3 adj If you say that someone or something is useless, you mean that they are no good at all.
Quora
quora.com › What-does-it-mean-when-someone-says-they-are-useless
What does it mean when someone says they are 'useless'? - Quora
Answer (1 of 2): Everyone has value and different skills or knowledge. People who think they are useless have low self esteem.
Longman
ldoceonline.com › dictionary › useless
useless | meaning of useless in Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English | LDOCE
useless meaning, definition, what is useless: not useful or effective in any way: Learn more.
Wiktionary
en.wiktionary.org › wiki › useless
useless - Wiktionary, the free dictionary
I'm all for opening new stations (Transport Scotland is planning another at East Linton, about halfway between Drem and Dunbar), but they are useless without a decent service.
Etymonline
etymonline.com › word › useless
Useless - Etymology, Origin & Meaning
"being of no use, not to the purpose or any purpose," 1590s of things, 1660s of persons, from use (n.) + -less. Related: Uselessly; uselessness.
Encyclopedia Britannica
britannica.com › dictionary › useless
Useless Definition & Meaning | Britannica Dictionary
The tent is useless in wet conditions.
Quora
quora.com › What-is-the-definition-of-useless-Is-it-possible-for-something-to-be-completely-useless-or-would-that-imply-it-has-some-purpose-or-value
What is the definition of 'useless'? Is it possible for something to be completely useless, or would that imply it has some purpose or value? - Quora
Answer (1 of 2): HI, Thanks for asking this question, I have been thinking about this since my school days, when they taught me that law, “energy can neither be created nor be destroyed” so, nothing is neither useful or useless. when my mother scolded me for leaving food in the plate, which ...
Gymglish
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Useless - Definition & Meaning
useless: worthless, incompetent, pointless, of no use adjective
Top answer 1 of 2
3
Useless could mean unhelpful, but pointless can’t. For example,
-You’re utterly useless, you know that? I can’t even count on you to...
Pointless implies without a purpose/futile. For example,
-It is pointless to keep fighting. Just face it, you’ve lost. (You could also use “useless” here though)
So, useless could be used synonymously with pointless with the meaning “futile/without purpose” but pointless can’t be used synonymously with the word useless to mean “unhelpful.” Hopefully I didn’t make that confusing!
2 of 2
1
they can mean the same thing at times for example
- This is useless we're never gonna make it on time.
- this is pointless we're never gonna make it on time.
But "useless" is something/someone that doesnt have any benefits, isn't good for anything.
"Pointless" usually means that there is no meaning to something, there is no reason.
Top answer 1 of 2
7
all but phrase 1 Very nearly. ‘the subject was all but forgotten’ - ODO
The straightforward sense is that the reviewer was claiming that the product was nearly useless. This is consistent with the review complaining about the product.
Oddly enough, if you stress the word but loudly enough, the sense flips to a defense against the product's uselessness.
Consider:
Reviewer: This microphone is all but useless. It hisses and spits, and barely transmits a word I speak into it.
Manufacturer: On the contrary, it is all but useless. Obviously, you haven't paired it with the solid gold contacts it was designed for.
2 of 2
1
The "all" in "all but" shouldn't be taken on its own as meaning "everything", but together as a "just short of" or "almost". I can't quite come up with a good reason why this is though.
"All but useless" is saying "it is functional, it can be used, but it is so poor you'll barely notice it if it wasn't"
There are plenty of whiners out there, who throw in exageration, expletives, and colourful witicisms, but one who uses an "all but useless" is saying "hey I can be objective, I admit it works, BUT...." It lends a measure of credibility that can actually press a point stronger than just decrying the product.