FRUITLESS

bootless, fruitless, futile, sleeveless, vain

(adjective) unproductive of success; “a fruitless search”; “futile years after her artistic peak”; “a sleeveless errand”; “a vain attempt”

Source: WordNet® 3.1

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Etymology

Adjective

fruitless (comparative more fruitless, superlative most fruitless)

Bearing no fruit; barren.

(figuratively) Unproductive, useless.

(figuratively, archaic) Of a person: unable to have children; barren, infertile.

(rare) Of a diet, etc.: without fruit.

Synonyms

• See futile

Antonyms

• fruitful

• (unproductive): effective, efficacious, productive, useful

Anagrams

• resistful

Source: Wiktionary

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Fruit"less, a.

1. Lacking, or not bearing, fruit; barren; destitute of offspring; as, a fruitless tree or shrub; a fruitless marriage. Shak.

2. Productive of no advantage or good effect; vain; idle; useless; unprofitable; as, a fruitless attempt; a fruitless controversy. They in mutual accusation spent The fruitless hours. Milton.

Syn.

– Useless; barren; unprofitable; abortive; ineffectual; vain; idle; profitless. See Useless.

– Fruit"less*ly, adv.

– Fruit"lness*ness, n.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition

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