useless
UK: ˈjuːsləs | US: ˈjuːsləs
adj. having no practical purpose or effect; ineffective
adj. lacking ability or skill; incompetent
The word "useless" combines the root "use" (from Old French user, meaning "to employ or utilize") with the suffix "-less" (from Old English -lēas, meaning "without"). The fusion creates a straightforward negation—literally "without use." This construction reflects a common pattern in English where "-less" transforms a noun or verb into an adjective denoting absence. Over time, "useless" expanded from its literal sense ("not functional") to include figurative meanings like "incompetent."
The broken tool was utterly useless for the task.
His advice proved useless in solving the problem.
She felt useless after losing her job.
The manual was useless without illustrations.
Critics called the new law a useless measure.