pointless

English

Etymology

From Middle English pointles, poynteles, poyntlees; equivalent to point +‎ -less.

Pronunciation

• enPR: pointʹləs, IPA^(key): /ˈpɔɪntləs/

• Audio (US):

  (file)

Adjective

pointless (comparative more pointless, superlative most pointless)

1. Having no point or sharp tip; terminating squarely or in a rounded end.

   a pointless sword

   a pointless knife

2. Having no prominent or important feature, as of an argument, discourse, etc.

   a pointless remark

   The sequel to the film was even more pointless than the original

3. Having no purpose; purposeless; unable to effect an aim.

   Since the decision has already been made, further discussion seems pointless.

4. (sports, games) Having no points

   After four matches and four defeats, United remain pointless at the foot of the table.

5. (mathematics) Without points.

   a pointless topology

6. (programming, derogatory) Point-free; employing the tacit programming paradigm.

Synonyms

• (having no point or tip): blunt, dull, obtuse
• (having no purpose): futile, needless, purposeless, redundant, superfluous
• (mathematics: without points): point-free

Antonyms

• (not sharp): pointed, sharp
• (having no purpose): useful, pointful

Derived terms

• pointlessly
• pointlessness

Translations

having no point or sharp tip

• Bulgarian: тъп (bg) (tǎp)
• Finnish: tylsä (fi)
• French: obtus (fr)
• German: stumpf (de)
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}
• Portuguese: sem ponta, desapontado
• Spanish: romo (es), chato (es)
• Swedish: please add this translation if you can

having no prominent or important feature

• Belarusian: бессэнсо́ўны (bjessensóŭny), бязглу́зды (bjazhlúzdy)
• Bulgarian: безсми́слен (bg) (bezsmíslen)
• German: gegenstandslos (de), irrelevant (de)
• Latvian: bezjēdzīgs
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}
• Russian: бессмы́сленный (ru) (bessmýslennyj)
• Spanish: irrelevante (es), fútil (es)
• Ukrainian: безглу́здий (uk) (bezhlúzdyj)

having no purpose

• Arabic: بدون جدوى
• Armenian: անիմաստ (hy) (animast)
• Belarusian: бессэнсо́ўны (bjessensóŭny), бязглу́зды (bjazhlúzdy)
• Bulgarian: безсми́слен (bg) (bezsmíslen)
• Dutch: zinloos (nl)
• Esperanto: sensenca, senkiala
• Finnish: turha (fi)
• French: inutile (fr), vain (fr)
• German: sinnlos (de), witzlos (de), zwecklos (de), unnütz (de)
• Gothic: 𐌷𐌰𐌻𐌺𐍃 (halks)
• Greek:

  Ancient: μάταιος (mátaios)

• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}
• Irish: fánach
• Latin: vānus
• Latvian: bezjēdzīgs
• Maori: mūhore, makihoi, maumau, moumou, kikokore, huhuakore, papakore
• Polish: bezsensowny (pl), bez sensu (pl), bezcelowy (pl)
• Portuguese: inútil (pt)
• Russian: бессмы́сленный (ru) (bessmýslennyj)
• Spanish: inútil (es), vano (es), innecesario (es)
• Swedish: poänglös (sv)
• Ukrainian: безглу́здий (uk) (bezhlúzdyj)

in mathematics

• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}

Further reading

• “pointless”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.
• “pointless”, in The Century Dictionary […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911, →OCLC.