FRUITLESS

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does fruitless mean? 

• FRUITLESS (adjective)
  The adjective FRUITLESS has 1 sense:

1. unproductive of success

  Familiarity information: FRUITLESS used as an adjective is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• FRUITLESS (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Unproductive of success

Synonyms:

bootless; fruitless; futile; sleeveless; vain

Context example:

a vain attempt

Similar:

unproductive (not producing or capable of producing)

Derivation:

fruitlessness (the quality of yielding nothing of value)

 Context examples 

But even now my visit may not be entirely fruitless.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

My first care, when I DID arrive, was of course to seek for her; but the search was as fruitless as it was melancholy.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

His ignorant and unprepared attempts at philosophy had been fruitless.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

Edith sent Hans to their cabins to get them to take Dennin down the coast in a canoe to the nearest white settlement or trading post, but the errand was fruitless.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

It is indeed good of you to come and see an old, lonely woman, said she, and I owe you an apology that I should give you a fruitless journey on Tuesday, but in a sense you were yourselves the cause of it, since the thought of your coming had excited me, and any excitement throws me into a nervous fever.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

It would be fruitless to attempt to explain; but there is a point on which I have long endured painful doubt, and I can go nowhere till by some means that doubt is removed.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

Interference—fruitless interference.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

The pause which followed this fruitless effort was ended by the same speaker, who, taking up one of the many volumes of plays that lay on the table, and turning it over, suddenly exclaimed—“Lovers' Vows!

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

John Thorpe, in the meanwhile, had walked away; and Catherine, ever willing to give Mr. Tilney an opportunity of repeating the agreeable request which had already flattered her once, made her way to Mrs. Allen and Mrs. Thorpe as fast as she could, in the hope of finding him still with them—a hope which, when it proved to be fruitless, she felt to have been highly unreasonable.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

Anne was shewn some letters of his on the occasion, answers to urgent applications from Mrs Smith, which all breathed the same stern resolution of not engaging in a fruitless trouble, and, under a cold civility, the same hard-hearted indifference to any of the evils it might bring on her.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)