as in sterile
not able to produce fruit or offspring
disappointed to discover that the mare was unfruitful
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Recent Examples of unfruitful
But the chances of the conviction being overturned are slim, and the decision to fight the charges against him to the bitter end—in contrast to Ellison and the other coconspirators—may continue to prove an unfruitful one.
—
Joel Khalili, WIRED, 24 Sep. 2024
One social media user argued that, despite her own decision not to listen to Brown’s music, his critics’ efforts to deter others to do the same have largely proven unfruitful.
—Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 3 Sep. 2019
In order to save yourself a frustrating, unfruitful trip to the DMV, double check all of your necessary documentation before going to the office.
—Reece Rogers, WIRED, 3 July 2024
Saturn won’t waste your time with unfruitful adventures.
—Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 18 Mar. 2024
See All Example Sentences for unfruitful
Joel Khalili, WIRED, 24 Sep. 2024
One social media user argued that, despite her own decision not to listen to Brown’s music, his critics’ efforts to deter others to do the same have largely proven unfruitful.
—Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 3 Sep. 2019
In order to save yourself a frustrating, unfruitful trip to the DMV, double check all of your necessary documentation before going to the office.
—Reece Rogers, WIRED, 3 July 2024
Saturn won’t waste your time with unfruitful adventures.
—Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 18 Mar. 2024
See All Example Sentences for unfruitful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unfruitful
Adjective
-
Back then, 600 million sterile flies were released each week, the NYT explains, and the fly was eliminated.—
Cara Lynn Shultz,
People.com,
28 July 2025
-
This facility will have the capability to disperse sterile flies in Northern Mexico.—
Mandy Taheri
Gabe Whisnant,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 July 2025
Adjective
-
Then there is Canada and Greenland’s beef over the uninhabited Hans Island, a barren spit in the Kennedy Channel.—
Charlie Campbell,
Time,
25 July 2025
-
Brown, barren, patchy spots in your lawn can be unsightly.—
Cody Godwin,
USA Today,
24 July 2025
Adjective
-
If the effects of the tariffs are not yet being felt fully — or even at all — the billboards are part of the Canadian government’s two-pronged campaign after attempts to appease the Trump administration by beefing up border security proved fruitless.—
Billy Witz,
New York Times,
6 Apr. 2025
-
His efforts appear fruitless against the overwhelming number of lovebugs.—
Raven Brunner,
People.com,
30 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Unfruitful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unfruitful. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.
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