What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
meritless
Example
The proposal was dismissed as meritless by the committee. [meritless: adjective]
Example
Arguing with him is meritless, he never listens to reason. [meritless: adjective]
pointless
Example
I find small talk to be pointless and boring. [pointless: adjective]
Example
Why bother cleaning the house when it will just get dirty again? It's a pointless task. [pointless: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Pointless is more commonly used than meritless in everyday language. Pointless is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while meritless is less common and is typically used in more formal or technical settings.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between meritless and pointless?
Meritless is more formal than pointless and is often used in academic or legal contexts to describe arguments or claims that lack supporting evidence or merit.
