unfruitful

USAGE SUMMARY

'unfruitful' is a valid word in written English.
You can use it in a sentence to describe something that has not achieved the desired or expected results. For example: "Unfortunately, the meeting was an unfruitful experience, as no progress was made."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

48 human-written examples

I would divert inquiry in the present case from the trodden and unfruitful ground of the event itself, to the contemporary circumstances which surround it".

The Economist

His fiddling with key-chains, his gabbling talk, his constitutional unconcern with the feelings of others are all symptomatic, but Mr Rogers sensibly drops the idea as "unfruitful".

The Economist

With little money sunk in fixed infrastructure, their executives are more likely to abandon unfruitful drugs earlier, diverting resources to more promising ones.

The Economist

The News of the World was then following what turned out to be an unfruitful line of investigation that Dowler had registered with an employment agency.

The Economist

For the sake of the country alone do we join in deploring the inaction and the neglect of the great do-nothing session of 1843.But though barren of immediate legislative results, and in many respects fatal to the domination of mere party, the session just concluded has been far from unfruitful.

The Economist

It is unfruitful to try.

The Economist

From 1941 to 1948 Strasberg was in Hollywood for what he later called "an unfruitful but nevertheless educational experience".

Encyclopedia Britannica

Leonardo DiCaprio deserves to win an Oscar after four unfruitful nominations.

Independent

My husband Matthew and I were just as unaware of this secret five years ago when, after a perfect pregnancy, Clementine was born via an emergency Caesarian at the end of a hellishly long and unfruitful labour, and her limp and silent body was whisked away to the special care baby unit.

Independent

"I think genius and talent are incredibly unfruitful concepts.

Independent

The points just made do not imply that ventures in molecular biology are unfruitful or that future research in neuroscience will be irrelevant to psychology.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing efforts or endeavors, use "unfruitful" to emphasize a lack of tangible results or progress, even if effort was expended.

Common error

While "unfruitful" is appropriate for many situations, avoid using it excessively in overly formal or technical writing where more precise terms might be available. Consider alternatives like "ineffective" or "unproductive" for greater clarity.

Linguistic Context

The adjective "unfruitful" primarily functions to modify nouns, describing something that does not yield positive results or desired outcomes. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a grammatically sound term in English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

61%

Encyclopedias

10%

Science

9%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

Reference

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "unfruitful" is a grammatically sound and frequently used adjective that describes something failing to produce desired results. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and its usage spans various contexts, particularly News & Media. While "unfruitful" is versatile, consider more precise alternatives like "ineffective" or "unproductive" in certain formal or technical contexts. Remember, while usable, avoid overuse. The term carries a neutral tone, making it suitable for various writing styles.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fruitless

A direct synonym, emphasizing the absence of positive outcomes or results.

unproductive

Directly states that no significant output or progress is being made.

infructuous

A less common synonym, also indicating a lack of fruit or positive results.

futile

Suggests a lack of effectiveness or success, often implying a sense of hopelessness.

ineffectual

Emphasizes the inability to produce a desired effect or outcome.

abortive

Implies a failure to produce the intended result, often due to premature termination.

sterile

Suggests an inability to create or produce anything new or vital.

vain

Indicates that efforts are producing no worthwhile result, often due to pride or superficiality.

bootless

An archaic term signifying a lack of benefit or advantage.

worthless

Highlights the lack of value or benefit derived from something.

FAQs

How to use "unfruitful" in a sentence?

You can use "unfruitful" to describe something that doesn't produce results. For instance, "The negotiations proved "unfruitful", and no agreement was reached."

What can I say instead of "unfruitful"?

Alternatives include "fruitless", "unproductive", or "ineffective", depending on the specific context.

Is "unfruitful" the same as "fruitless"?

While very similar, "unfruitful" can sometimes imply a lack of potential from the beginning, whereas "fruitless" might suggest effort expended without result.

When is it appropriate to use the word "unfruitful"?

Use "unfruitful" when you want to express that an action, effort, or discussion did not yield positive results or achieve its intended purpose.