fruitless

UK: /ˈfruːtləs/ US: /ˈfrutlɪs/ ,(fro̅o̅t′lis)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

fruit•less /ˈfrutlɪs/   adj. 

1. not producing results or success:
   a fruitless search.

fruit•less•ly, adv. 
fruit•less•ness, n. [uncountable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

fruit•less  (fro̅o̅t′lis), adj. 

1. useless;
   unproductive;
   without results or success:
   a fruitless search for the missing treasure.
2. Botany bearing no fruit;
   barren.

• 1300–50; Middle English; see fruit, -less

fruit′less•ly, adv. 
fruit′less•ness, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. . futile, unavailing, vain.
• 2. . sterile.

Antonyms

• 1. . useful, profitable.
• 2. . fertile.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

fruitless / ˈfruːtlɪs/ adjective

1. yielding nothing or nothing of value; unproductive; ineffectual
2. without fruit

ˈfruitlessly adverb

ˈfruitlessness noun