pointless

B2 Topic:Abstract Ideas

US /ˈpɔɪntləs/ See IPA manual

adj Freq #6693

Meanings

1

adj
Having no purpose; not worth doing because it achieves nothing.

Since the decision has already been made, further discussion seems pointless.
2

adj
Not having a sharp tip.

All my pencils are pointless and need sharpening.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · having no purpose; not... futile needless purposeless

2 adj · not having a sharp tip. unpointed

More blunt dull obtusepoint-free

Opposites

pointedpointfulsharp useful worthwhile

Word family

Forms pointlessness

Derived forms pointlesslypointlessness

Etymology

From Middle English pointles, poynteles, poyntlees. By surface analysis, point + -less.

pointles Middle English

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Abstract Ideas

# pointless

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B2
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** ˈpɔɪntləs
**Frequency rank:** 6693

## Meanings
1. Having no purpose; not worth doing because it achieves nothing.
2. Not having a sharp tip.

## Examples
- Since the decision has already been made, further discussion seems pointless.
- All my pencils are pointless and need sharpening.

## Synonyms
- blunt
- dull
- obtuse
- point-free

## Antonyms
- pointed
- pointful
- sharp
- useful
- worthwhile

## Derived Forms
- pointlessly
- pointlessness

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: pointles

## Etymology
From Middle English pointles, poynteles, poyntlees. By surface analysis, point + -less.

## AI Etymology
Pointless comes from Middle English pointles, poynteles, poyntlees. By surface analysis, point + -less. The historical chain includes pointles (Middle English). In present-day English it covers having no purpose; not worth doing because it achieves nothing and not having a sharp tip. The wider family includes derived forms such as pointlessly, pointlessness.

## Topics
- Abstract Ideas

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pointless

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