meaningless
/ˈmiːnɪŋləs/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈmiːnɪŋləs/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈmē-niŋ-ləs/ (ame, mw)
meaningless — adjective
- meaninglesspositive
- more meaninglesscomparative
- most meaninglesssuperlative
1. Describing written words, symbols, sounds, or speech that do not carry any messa
Describing written words, symbols, sounds, or speech that do not carry any message or idea that a person can understand or make sense of.
The ancient symbols carved on the stone wall looked completely meaningless to the archaeologists.
collocation: completely meaningless
Feng kept repeating the same meaningless sounds while staring out of the window.
attributive use: meaningless sounds
To the tourist from Taiwan, the street signs in Arabic script were entirely meaningless.
The baby's babbling sounded like meaningless noise, though her mother seemed to understand it.
The warning label had been so badly translated that most of it became meaningless.
- unintelligible
Focuses on the impossibility of being understood rather than the absence of meaning; e.g. 'His speech was slurred and unintelligible.'
- nonsensical
Stronger tone — suggests the words are deliberately absurd or illogical, not simply empty.
- empty
More informal and vague; can refer to words that lack sincerity rather than semantic content.
- meaningful
The direct opposite — carries a clear message or purpose.
- intelligible
Possible to understand; implies the content is there but was previously unclear.
文法句型
meaningless + noun
be + meaningless
用法筆記
Gradable in theory, but the comparative forms 'more meaningless' and 'most meaningless' are far less common than adverb-modified versions such as 'completely meaningless' or 'utterly meaningless'. This sense overlaps slightly with 'unintelligible', but 'unintelligible' focuses on the lack of understandability, whereas 'meaningless' focuses on the lack of communicated content.
常見錯誤
2. Having no real importance, value, or influence in a particular situation; not be
Having no real importance, value, or influence in a particular situation; not being worth serious attention or thought.
The committee spent hours arguing over meaningless details instead of addressing the main problem.
collocation: meaningless details
Ava considered the award completely meaningless compared to her family's health and happiness.
To the voters, the candidate's repeated promises had become meaningless after years of broken commitments.
Most of the numbers in the report were meaningless for answering the research question.
The difference between the two products is so small it seems meaningless to shoppers.
- trivial
More specific — suggests something is small or minor in scope; 'meaningless' carries a stronger dismissive tone.
- insignificant
Closer in register; 'insignificant' is more neutral and objective, while 'meaningless' is more emotive.
- irrelevant
Focuses on not being related to the topic at hand, rather than lacking importance in general.
- important
The direct opposite — having significance or influence.
- significant
Noteworthy or consequential; opposite of 'meaningless' in value terms.
- meaningful
Carrying importance or purpose; works across all three senses.
文法句型
seem + meaningless
become + meaningless
meaningless + noun
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 3 (PURPOSELESS). Sense 2 describes things that do not matter in a given context (trivial details, empty promises). Sense 3 describes a deeper existential or purpose-driven emptiness (a meaningless existence, a meaningless pursuit). The context of 'argument' or 'debate' can be ambiguous — 'The argument was meaningless' could mean either trivial (sense 2) or futile (sense 3), depending on the speaker's intent.
常見錯誤
3. Lacking any worthwhile purpose or valid reason, so that an activity, situation,
Lacking any worthwhile purpose or valid reason, so that an activity, situation, or state of being feels empty and not worth doing, having, or continuing.
After his wife died, the old man felt his daily life had become completely meaningless.
collocation: completely meaningless
Arjun realised that trying to please everyone was a meaningless pursuit that only exhausted him.
attributive use: a meaningless pursuit
Doing the same tasks every week made the job feel meaningless to Lucía.
The debate was completely meaningless because neither side was willing to change its position.
Filling out these forms feels like a meaningless ritual that nobody ever reads.
- pointless
More active — emphasises that an effort or activity will achieve nothing; e.g. 'It is pointless to argue with someone who will not listen.'
- futile
Stronger and more formal — suggests that an attempt is certain to fail; e.g. 'The rescue effort was futile given the storm.'
- purposeless
Rarer and more literal — describes something that simply has no goal or aim.
- empty
More informal — describes an experience that feels hollow rather than aimless.
- meaningful
Carrying deep purpose or significance.
- worthwhile
Deserving the time or effort spent; the opposite of a futile or empty activity.
- purposeful
Deliberate and goal-directed; the opposite of an aimless existence.
文法句型
feel + meaningless
seem + meaningless
become + meaningless
meaningless + noun
用法筆記
This sense carries an existential or emotional weight that sense 2 (UNIMPORTANT) does not. Use sense 3 when the speaker is expressing frustration, emptiness, or despair about the lack of purpose. Sense 2 is more factual and context-dependent. The phrase 'meaningless relationship' could be sense 2 (a relationship with no real emotional value) or sense 3 (a relationship that feels futile because it is going nowhere).