most pointless of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "most pointless of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to emphasize the extreme lack of purpose or significance of something in comparison to others. Example: "In my opinion, this is the most pointless of all the tasks we've been assigned this week."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

"No Jim 'Say What You See' Beglin, the most pointless of all commentating sidekicks.

The Guardian

I had no liking for Jane Austen at all when I was young, and Persuasion seemed the most pointless of her works.

The Guardian - Books

Earlier that year the nation had been transfixed by the most pointless of ransom slayings, when Bobby Franks, the 14-year-old son of a Chicago millionaire, was killed by Nathan Leopold Jr., 19, and Richard Loeb, 18, as an intellectual experiment.

The New York Times

By now, you will have heard the news that Bonnie Tyler is to be deployed as Britain's entry to that most pointless of internecine conflicts, which explodes again every year because poorly negotiated peace treaties have failed to put an end to it.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Even at the most pointless of social media events, one can generally expect five to ten percent of their RSVP'd audience to show (at least, that's been my experience when throwing last-minute birthday parties).

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

So, with my own inadequacies in mind, here are some of the most pointless gameshows of all time, each one an example of the different traps well-meaning producers endlessly fall into.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Like DeCandido, Epsicokhan gave "Shades of Grey" a score of zero and described it as "the most pointless episode of TNG ever made".

Wikipedia

And, in the spirit of exaggeration, I would add: the most pointless piece of gesture politics.

The Guardian - Opinion

This covers all sports, obviously, but none more so than what might be called the decorative ones: synchronised swimming, rhythmic gymnastics, and the most pointless sport of all – the one in which pointlessness has been raised to the level of an art form – figure skating.

The Guardian - Opinion

Possibly the most pointless one of all.

The Guardian - Sport

In 2008, Felipe Calderón, the president, held a competition to identify and abolish the country's most pointless bit of bureaucracy.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "most pointless of" to emphasize a comparative lack of purpose or value among multiple options. For example, "This meeting was the "most pointless of" all the meetings we've had this month."

Common error

Avoid using "most pointless of" in highly formal writing. Opt for more sophisticated alternatives like "least productive" or "most inconsequential" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "most pointless of" functions as a superlative modifier within a sentence. It's used to identify something as having the greatest degree of pointlessness when compared to a group of other items or activities. This is supported by Ludwig's examples, where the phrase consistently highlights a specific item as supremely lacking purpose.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "most pointless of" is a grammatically sound construction used to express that something lacks purpose compared to other things. According to Ludwig, the expression is correct. It functions as a superlative modifier and serves to convey a negative judgment, often to criticize or dismiss something. While the phrase is mostly seen in News & Media, caution should be used when employing it in highly formal context; in such cases, synonyms as "least productive", or "most inconsequential" are preferable to maintain a professional tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the most futile

Replaces "pointless" with "futile", stressing the ineffectiveness of something.

the most senseless

Substitutes "pointless" with "senseless", emphasizing the lack of logic.

the most insignificant

Replaces "pointless" with "insignificant", stressing the lack of importance.

the least meaningful

Substitutes "pointless" with "meaningful", creating a negative superlative.

devoid of any value

Highlights the lack of worth or significance.

completely without merit

Focuses on the absence of positive qualities or value.

utterly devoid of purpose

Replaces "most pointless of" with an emphasis on the complete absence of purpose.

the most unproductive

Focuses on the lack of positive outcomes or results.

the biggest waste of time

Frames the phrase in terms of wasted time, highlighting inefficiency.

the height of absurdity

Expresses the idea with a touch of exaggeration.

FAQs

How can I use "most pointless of" in a sentence?

You can use "most pointless of" to describe something that lacks purpose compared to other things. For example, "That meeting was the "most pointless of" all the meetings this week".

What's a good alternative to "most pointless of"?

Alternatives include "least meaningful", "most futile", or "biggest waste of time", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "most pointless of all"?

Yes, "most pointless of all" is grammatically correct and adds emphasis. For instance, "That task was the "most pointless of" all the tasks assigned".

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "most pointless of"?

It's appropriate to use "most pointless of" when you want to emphasize that something is particularly lacking in purpose or value compared to other things within a specific context. Be mindful of the tone, as it can come across as critical.