otiose
- adjective
- /ˈoʊʃoʊs/
- Formal
:
inútil
- The meeting was deemed otiose since none of the topics addressed contributed any new insights.
Examples
-
His complaints about the service were otiose, as they had already resolved the issue.
-
It is more likely a closely held tenet of elites who continue to pay formal obeisance to the now otiose principles of the ruling party because the latter is the best vehicle for their nationalist sentiments.
Academic text (1997) -
One interesting fact of biotechnology is that it may make increasingly otiose certain objects of emotion and their conditions.
Academic text (2003) -
Introducing allies may be otiose, since the reduction affects the person allying.
Blog text (11) -
Bringing additional chairs to the picnic proved otiose because everyone ended up sitting on the grass.
Synonyms
550
1.0
Not able to do the job it is made for
226
5.1
Having no meaning, value, or purpose
157
3.5
Not doing anything useful
84
6.0
Not likely to work or help
69
4.2
Foolish and having no clear reason
22
7.0
More than what is needed or useful
18
6.8
Not able to produce the result wanted
4
5.3
Not done for any clear reason or useful result
1
4.2
Not producing any useful result
1
8.2
Not producing the result you want
Not helpful and not wanted in any situation
Antonyms
How Useful
Surface Forms
Etymology
The word otiose also comes from Latin otiosus and otium meaning 'leisure', and this led people to use it for things that are 'idle' or not needed. So otiose can mean 'useless' or 'pointless' when something serves no practical purpose.