Anglais

meaninglessly

gb/mˈinɪŋɡlˈɛsli/ us/mˈinɪŋɡlˈɛsli/
C1 Anglais
Sens
0 sens
adverb C1 property
1

in a pointless, purposeless way

In a way that is not useful or has no purpose.

Schéma d’usage : meaninglessly + [verb]
Erreur fréquente :
Don’t use it to mean “carelessly” (without care); it means “without purpose or value.”
Synonymes
pointlessly (Most direct synonym; emphasizes lack of point.) | purposelessly (Emphasizes lack of purpose or goal.) | aimlessly (Emphasizes lack of direction; often about moving or searching.)
Antonymes
meaningfully (Done in a way that has meaning or value.) | purposefully (Done with a clear purpose or intention.)
Collocations
meaninglessly argue |meaninglessly repeat |meaninglessly continue |meaninglessly busy |meaninglessly spend time |meaninglessly destroy |meaninglessly prolong |meaninglessly criticise |meaninglessly compete |meaninglessly fight
Thèmes
daily_life |communication |emotions
Exemples
  • We spent the afternoon meaninglessly scrolling through videos.
  • The debate dragged on meaninglessly, with no new ideas.
  • He was tired of working meaninglessly long hours for nothing.
Exemples pédagogiques
  • I don’t want to live meaninglessly.
  • They argued meaninglessly for hours.
adverb C1 property
2

without expressing anything clearly

Without showing any clear feeling or message.

Schéma d’usage : meaninglessly + [verb: stare/smile/nod/look]
Erreur fréquente :
This sense is about expression (a blank look), not about the action being useless.
Synonymes
blankly (Most common for facial expression or gaze; emphasizes emptiness.) | vacantly (Suggests absence of thought or attention.) | expressionlessly (Focuses on lack of facial expression.)
Antonymes
expressively (Shows feelings or meaning clearly.) | knowingly (Implies the look or action communicates intention or understanding.)
Collocations
meaninglessly stare |meaninglessly smile |meaninglessly nod |meaninglessly glance |meaninglessly grin |meaninglessly laugh |meaninglessly gaze
Thèmes
emotions |communication
Exemples
  • She stared meaninglessly at the wall, barely listening.
  • He smiled meaninglessly, as if he hadn’t understood the joke.
  • The crowd nodded meaninglessly, waiting for the speech to end.
Exemples pédagogiques
  • He looked at me meaninglessly.
  • She smiled meaninglessly.
adverb C1 property
3

producing words with no meaning

Using sounds or words that do not make sense.

Schéma d’usage : meaninglessly + [verb: babble/mutter/repeat]
Erreur fréquente :
Not the same as “incorrectly”; it means the words themselves don’t carry clear meaning.
Synonymes
nonsensically (Emphasizes that it doesn’t make sense.) | incoherently (Emphasizes lack of clear, connected speech.)
Antonymes
coherently (Speaks in a clear, logical way.) | clearly (Uses understandable language.)
Collocations
meaninglessly babble |meaninglessly mutter |meaninglessly chatter |meaninglessly repeat |meaninglessly ramble
Thèmes
language |communication
Exemples
  • The toddler babbled meaninglessly while playing with blocks.
  • He muttered meaninglessly under his breath, too tired to form a sentence.
  • The recording was damaged, and the voices came through meaninglessly.
Exemples pédagogiques
  • The baby talked meaninglessly.
  • He repeated the words meaninglessly.
Grammaire
Forme canonique
meaninglessly
API
GB/mˈinɪŋɡlˈɛsli/
US/mˈinɪŋɡlˈɛsli/
Syllabes et accentuation
mean - ing - lessly (3 syllabes)
Stress on 1st syllable (mean)
Formes du mot
Noun
  • Base: meaninglessly
  • Plural: meaninglesslies
Famille de mots
Forms
meaninglesslies noun
Core family
mean verb A2 meaning noun meaningful adjective B2
Related words
meaningfully adverb
Negative and opposite forms
meaningless adjective B2
Expressions

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