"it was useless" vs "it was pointless"

Question

"it was useless" vs "it was pointless"

Both phrases are correct and can be used interchangeably to express that something had no purpose or was not effective. They are similar in meaning and can be used in various contexts.

Last Updated: March 21, 2024

This phrase is used to express that an action, event, or situation was without any use or value.

Examples:

All his efforts were useless; he couldn't change her mind.
Buying that expensive gadget turned out to be useless; it broke after a week.
Her advice was useless; it didn't help me at all.
Trying to fix the leak without the right tools was useless.
It was useless to try to convince him otherwise; he was set in his ways.

Alternatives:

it was pointless
it was futile
it was in vain
it was a waste of time
it was a lost cause

This phrase is used to express that an action, event, or situation was without any point, aim, or use.

Examples:

The meeting was pointless as no decisions were made.
Arguing with him is pointless; he never listens.
Studying for the exam now seems pointless since I missed so many classes.
Trying to fix that old computer is pointless; it's beyond repair.
It's pointless to continue this discussion if we can't agree on the basics.

Alternatives:

it was useless
it was futile
it was in vain
it was a waste of time
it was a lost cause

Answer 1

it was useless

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to convey that something had no purpose or was not effective.

Answer 2

it was pointless

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to convey that something had no purpose or was not worth doing.

"it was useless" vs "it was pointless"

it was useless

it was pointless

Related Comparisons