bootless
1
9.9
- adjective
- /ˈbuːtləs/
- Archaic
- And trouble heaven with my bootless cries.
- bootless cries
Examples
-
She realized that arguing with her stubborn friend was bootless, as it never led to any resolution.
-
I regret the time we have spent on what now seems a bootless topic of conversation.
Fiction book (1991) -
As far as Israel pleasing Obama, that is both bootless and a fool's error.
Blog text (8) -
Instead of frittering away their lives on bootless illusions, intelligent beings would unravel the subtle intricacies of nature.
Fiction book (2002) -
His efforts to convince the committee were bootless, as they had already made their decision.
-
After years of preparation, his attempts to start the business proved bootless and led to financial loss.
Synonyms
188
2.5
An action that will not help
105
3.9
Not producing the result you want
75
6.0
Not likely to work or help
23
4.8
Not giving the results you want
20
3.8
Not giving useful or wanted results
4
5.3
Not done for any clear reason or useful result
2
4.5
Not giving useful results or helping to finish work, like a meeting
Antonyms
How Useful
Surface Forms
Morphology
Etymology
Bootless comes from an old English word bōt meaning 'help' or 'advantage', plus -less meaning 'without'. It is not from the shoe boot, so bootless literally means 'without help' or 'without gain', which is why it describes something 'futile' or that brings no result.