pointless

English

Alternative forms

• pointlesse (obsolete)

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

   • 2017, Hernan Diaz, In the Distance, Daunt Books (2018), page 304:

     Even the numerous drunkards and beggars seemed to be in a hurry, stumbling from one side of the street to the other with pointless resolution or, with businesslike expeditiousness, soliciting money and food from strangers.

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

• (antonym(s) of “not sharp”): pointed, sharp
• (antonym(s) of “having no purpose”): worthwhile, useful, pointful

Derived terms

• pointless topology
• pointlessly
• pointlessness

Translations

having no point or sharp tip

• Bulgarian: тъп (bg) (tǎp)
• Finnish: tylsä (fi)
• French: obtus (fr)
• German: stumpf (de)
• Portuguese: sem ponta, desapontado (pt)
• Spanish: romo (es), chato (es)
• Swedish: trubbig (sv)

having no prominent or important feature

• Belarusian: бессэнсо́ўны (bjessensóŭny), бязглу́зды (bjazhlúzdy)
• Bulgarian: безсми́слен (bg) (bezsmíslen)
• German: gegenstandslos (de), irrelevant (de)
• Latvian: bezjēdzīgs
• Lithuanian: bereikšmis m
• Russian: бессмы́сленный (ru) (bessmýslennyj)
• Spanish: irrelevante (es), fútil (es)
• Swedish: meningslös (sv)
• 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)

• Ingrian: turha
• 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), meningslös (sv)
• Ukrainian: безглу́здий (uk) (bezhlúzdyj)

in mathematics

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.