Dictionary Workbench Ondict

pointless

Dictionary entry view. Switch to definition mode above when you know the meaning but not the word.

pointless

Word family
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++朗文当代英语 5++LDOCE 5++朗文 5++point·less /ˈpɔɪntləs/ ●○○ adjective  POINTLESSworthless or not likely to have any useful result 无益的,无用的 Life just seemed pointless to me. 生活对我来说简直没什么意义。 a pointless quarrel 无谓的争吵it is pointless doing something It’s pointless telling her to clean her room – she’ll never do it. 叫她打扫自己的房间没有用,她绝对不会去干的。it is pointless to do something I think it would be pointless to discuss this issue again. 我认为再讨论这个问题毫无意义。pointlessly adverbpointlessness noun [uncountable]nTHESAURUSpointless not likely to have a useful resultShe knew it would be pointless to argue with him.The meeting was a pointless exercise.futile completely pointless because there is no chance at all of being successfulShe shut the door in a futile attempt to keep the smell out.Their efforts proved futile (=did not have any success).useless not useful or effective in any wayI knew it was useless to try to explain to him what had happened.The map we had been given was useless.hopeless having no hope of being successful or effectiveIt was a hopeless task.He was jumping up and down in a hopeless attempt to keep warm.be a waste of time/money/effort to be not worth the time, money etc that you use because you do not achieve anythingThe whole process was a complete waste of time.The scheme was a waste of money.
Examples from the Corpus
pointlessOfficials say the investigation is pointless.The argument was completely pointless.I felt strong; there was a point to a life that had seemed pointless.It could also be said that without evaluation, proper identification of need is pointless!Until Tuesday night, the question seemed almost pointless.When you watch them you think it almost looks pointless.a pointless, brutal murderBills with bipartisan sponsorship have been introduced in both chambers to repeal this pointless cruelty.pointless drug testing on animalsInstead of allowing this to be a frustrating and pointless event, ask yourself why you created it.Speculating like that was always a pointless exercise, but he did it nevertheless.We had to change the sheets daily, which always seemed to me to be a pointless exercise.Never give your students pointless exercises to do -- always provide interesting, meaningful tasks.What she thought intolerable was that people could hate each other in a silly, pointless place where peace was possible.People stood in groups, making pointless small talk.It is pointless to argue about who is more to blame.The company says it is pointless to compete in the air package holiday market.It's pointless to take notes and then never look at them again.Simon was probably dead, and it was pointless to think he was coming back.It's pointless trying to speak to the manager -- she's always too busy.She decided it was pointless trying to work while her mind was on other things.Look, it's pointless us both waiting here -- I'll go and find a phone.a film full of pointless violenceMost people think the project is a pointless waste of money.It was pointless, we were told.it is pointless to do somethingIt is pointless to look at the budget again.However, it is pointless to plan too far ahead.
point·less adjectiven THESAURUS1LDOCE OnlineChineseSyllable
worthless to likely any result not or have Corpus useful


pointless
pointless /ˈpɔɪntləs/ adjective
 Word Family: noun: point, pointer, pointlessness; adjective: pointed, pointy, pointless; adverb: pointlessly, pointedly; verb: point
worthless or not likely to have any useful result:
    Life just seemed pointless to me.
    a pointless quarrel
    it is pointless doing something
    It’s pointless telling her to clean her room – she’ll never do it.
    it is pointless to do something
    I think it would be pointless to discuss this issue again.
—pointlessly adverb
—pointlessness noun [uncountable]
     
THESAURUS
    pointless not likely to have a useful result: She knew it would be pointless to argue with him. | The meeting was a pointless exercise.
    futile completely pointless because there is no chance at all of being successful: She shut the door in a futile attempt to keep the smell out. | Their efforts proved futile (=did not have any success).
    useless not useful or effective in any way: I knew it was useless to try to explain to him what had happened. | The map we had been given was useless.
    hopeless having no hope of being successful or effective: It was a hopeless task. | He was jumping up and down in a hopeless attempt to keep warm.
    be a waste of time/money/effort to be not worth the time, money etc that you use because you do not achieve anything: The whole process was a complete waste of time. | The scheme was a waste of money.


point·lessBrE /ˈpɔɪntləs/ 🔊NAmE /ˈpɔɪntləs/ 🔊 adjectivehaving no purpose; not worth doing 无意义的;无目标的;不值得做的We searched until we knew it would be pointless to continue. 我们搜索又搜索,直到觉得继续下去也枉然时才罢手。🔊🔊 point·less·ly BrE /ˈpɔɪntləsli/ 🔊NAmE /ˈpɔɪntləsli/ 🔊 adverbHe argued pointlessly with his parents. 他无谓地和父母争论。🔊🔊 point·less·ness BrE /ˈpɔɪntləsnəs/ 🔊NAmE /ˈpɔɪntləsnəs/ 🔊 noun [uncountable] the pointlessness of war战争的无意义