ENGLISH
REFERENCE

senseless

adj.
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈsɛnsɫəs// UK //sˈɛnsləs// sense·less

adj. happening for no good reason or being very foolish. It describes something that is cruel or stupid because it does not make sense.

adj. lacking meaning, purpose, or common sense; often describes acts of violence or extreme folly. Frequently used to characterize events that seem avoidable or irrational.


SIMPLE

The two neighbors had a senseless argument over a fence.

CONTEXTUAL

The community struggled to understand the senseless destruction of the local park over the weekend.

COMPLEX

The diplomat lamented the senseless loss of life during the conflict, arguing that the territorial dispute could have been resolved through peaceful mediation.

Synonyms
Origin

From sense + -less. Compare Saterland Frisian sinloos (“senseless, foolish”).

Usage

Often used predicatively after linking verbs like 'seem' or 'feel', or attributively to modify nouns like 'violence' or 'tragedy'.

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