meritless

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "meritless" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that lacks merit, value, or justification, often in the context of arguments, claims, or actions. Example: "The lawsuit was dismissed as meritless, as there was no evidence to support the claims made by the plaintiff."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He signed it into law in 2003, capping non-economic damages in medical lawsuits, and signed a follow-up this year, which makes people who lose meritless lawsuits liable for their opponent's legal bills.Many contend that Mr Perry has not been as fiscally prudent as he claims.

The Economist

In papers made public on Tuesday, Take-Two responded calling her claim "so legally meritless that it lacks any good-faith basis and can only have been filed for publicity purposes".

Independent

The game's publisher recently branded the lawsuit "so legally meritless that it lacks any good-faith basis and can only have been filed for publicity purposes".

Independent

Twitter said in a statement that the claims "are meritless" and that it intends to "fight them".

Independent

Grand Theft Auto V publisher Take-Two Interactive has dismissed Lindsay Lohan's lawsuit as a bid to get attention, branding it "legally meritless".

Independent

This can make her seem likably roguish and honest – which of us has not lost our hearts to something that our heads know to be meritless trash, or sustained contradictory opinions on a complicated issue?

Independent

The affirmative-action claim turned out to be meritless.

The New Yorker

The President does not say that he or his lawyers think that the constitutional argument is a bad argument — i.e., that, in their opinion, it is actually meritless, constitutionally or substantively.

The New Yorker

Just two of the C.E.S. lawyers had billed the election-equipment company for twenty-seven hundred hours' work on the case — about fifteen working months — and Haden re-billed this to the plaintiffs, on his judgment that, despite the fact that an earlier judge had ruled the case not frivolous, it was "meritless".

The New Yorker

The lawsuit in the Amazon is meritless, Mastro assured me — Donziger was merely "out to make a buck".

The New Yorker

Judge Young rightly found that "a meritless defense" with "the sole purpose of embarrassing the decedents' families".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "meritless" to describe claims, arguments, or lawsuits that clearly lack factual or legal support to strengthen your argument.

Common error

While "meritless" is a valid word, avoid using it excessively in casual conversations; opt for simpler terms like "worthless" or "pointless" to maintain a natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "meritless" is as an adjective. It is used to describe a noun, indicating that the noun lacks merit, value, or justification. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage in numerous contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "meritless" functions as an adjective, primarily used in neutral to formal registers to describe something lacking value or justification. As shown by Ludwig AI's analysis, it is grammatically correct and frequently used, especially in news and media contexts. While its usage is generally straightforward, it's important to consider the context and audience to ensure the tone is appropriate. Alternatives like "baseless", "groundless", and "unfounded" can provide similar meanings with slightly different nuances.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

baseless

Indicates a lack of foundation or support, similar to lacking merit.

groundless

Implies a lack of factual basis, similar to being without merit.

unfounded

Suggests a lack of evidence or justification, akin to lacking merit.

worthless

Describes something that has no value or importance, similar to being meritless.

futile

Indicates something that is pointless or ineffective, sharing the sense of lacking merit.

pointless

Suggests a lack of purpose or reason, similar to being without merit.

inane

Describes something silly or meaningless, akin to being meritless.

trivial

Implies something is of little importance or significance, similar to lacking merit.

insignificant

Suggests a lack of importance or consequence, sharing the sense of lacking merit.

empty

Describes something that lacks substance or meaning, similar to being meritless.

FAQs

How can I use "meritless" in a sentence?

You can use "meritless" to describe something that lacks value or justification, such as "The judge dismissed the case as "meritless"."

What are some alternatives to saying "meritless"?

Some alternatives include "baseless", "groundless", "unfounded", or "worthless" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "meritless claim" or "baseless claim"?

Both "meritless claim" and "baseless claim" are correct, but "baseless" emphasizes a lack of factual foundation, while "meritless" highlights a lack of overall value or justification.

What is the difference between "meritless" and "frivolous"?

"Meritless" generally means lacking merit or substance, while "frivolous" implies being trivial, unserious, or lacking a legitimate purpose. A "meritless" lawsuit might simply lack evidence, while a frivolous lawsuit is often intended to harass or delay.