useless
- 01 B1 Intermediate
not working or not able to be used for its purpose.
having no practical use or being incapable of functioning as intended.
Simple“This old umbrella is useless because it has a huge hole in the top.”
In context“The manual proved useless during the emergency, as it lacked specific instructions for the mechanical failure we were experiencing.”
SynonymsAntonyms - 02 B1 Intermediate
not helping you to achieve what you want; a waste of time.
serving no purpose or providing no assistance in achieving a goal.
Simple“It is useless to argue with him when he has already made up his mind.”
In context“The committee realised that further debate was useless once the budget had been officially vetoed by the board.”
Antonyms - 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
not having the skill to do something well.
lacking competence or skill in a specific area of activity.
Simple“I am useless at maths, so I always use a calculator for simple sums.”
In context“Despite his enthusiasm for the sport, he admitted he was entirely useless at navigating the boat in high winds.”
Synonyms - 04 C1 Advanced
describes a person who is lazy or does not help at all.
used as a derogatory descriptor for a person perceived as lazy, unreliable, or having no value to a group.
Simple“My brother is useless; he just sits on the sofa while I do all the housework.”
In context“The manager was fired after his staff complained that he was a useless leader who ignored every crisis.”
UsageOften used as a direct insult or in expressions of extreme frustration.
Teacher's tipWhile not always a 'swear word', calling a person useless is a strong personal insult; learners should use it with caution.
“But, hold the extra spice please, as I'm useless with anything too hot.”
From use + -less.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.