Meaninglessness: meaning, definitions and examples

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meaninglessness

 

[ ˌmiːnɪŋˈlɛsnəs ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

feeling of

The state or quality of being meaningless; lack of significance or purpose.

Synonyms

insignificance, pointlessness.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
meaninglessness

Used when expressing the lack of significance or purpose of something, often in an existential or philosophical context.

  • He felt a deep sense of meaninglessness after his team's defeat.
  • The movie explored the meaninglessness of life in a modern world.
pointlessness

Used when highlighting the lack of purpose, effectiveness, or value in an action or thing. Often carries a sense of futility and sometimes frustration.

  • Arguing with him is such a pointlessness; he's never going to change his mind.
  • They realized the pointlessness of their efforts after no progress was made.
insignificance

Applied to describe something that is too small or unimportant to be worth considering. Often used in a practical or comparative context.

  • The delay was insignificant compared to the overall success of the project.
  • In the grand scheme of the universe, human life might seem like an insignificance.

Examples of usage

  • It was a moment of complete meaninglessness.
  • She felt overwhelmed by the meaninglessness of life.
Context #2 | Noun

philosophy

The philosophical concept that life has no inherent meaning or purpose.

Synonyms

absurdity, nihilism.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
meaninglessness

Meaninglessness refers to a lack of purpose or significance. It's often used in philosophical or existential discussions.

  • She felt a sense of meaninglessness after her dream job fell through.
  • The movie explored the meaninglessness of modern life.
nihilism

Nihilism is a philosophical belief that life is without objective meaning, purpose, or intrinsic value. It can have a negative connotation and is often discussed in contexts related to existential philosophy or extreme skepticism.

  • Nihilism was a central theme in his latest novel.
  • Some people believe that modern society is heading towards nihilism.
absurdity

Absurdity is used to describe something that is ridiculous or nonsensical. It is often used in situations where something is so illogical that it challenges common sense.

  • The absurdity of the situation made everyone laugh.
  • He pointed out the absurdity of the new policy at work.

Examples of usage

  • Existentialists often explore the idea of meaninglessness in their works.
  • The character in the novel struggles with the concept of meaninglessness.

Translations

Translations of the word "meaninglessness" in other languages:

🇵🇹 insignificância

🇮🇳 अर्थहीनता

🇩🇪 Sinnlosigkeit

🇮🇩 ketiadaan makna

🇺🇦 безглуздість

🇵🇱 bezsensowność

🇯🇵 無意味

🇫🇷 insignifiance

🇪🇸 insignificancia

🇹🇷 anlamsızlık

🇰🇷 무의미

🇸🇦 عدم المعنى

🇨🇿 nesmyslnost

🇸🇰 nezmyselnosť

🇨🇳 无意义

🇸🇮 nesmiselnost

🇮🇸 merkingarleysi

🇰🇿 мағынасыздық

🇬🇪 უსარგებლობა

🇦🇿 mənasızlıq

🇲🇽 insignificancia

Etymology

The word 'meaninglessness' originated from the combination of 'meaningless' (lacking meaning or purpose) and the suffix '-ness' (forming abstract nouns from adjectives). It first appeared in the English language in the early 19th century. The concept of meaninglessness has been explored in various philosophical and literary works, reflecting on the existential questions about the nature of life and existence.

See also: meaningful, meaninglessly.

Word Frequency Rank

At rank #29,714, this word represents specialized academic or technical vocabulary. It's less frequently encountered but may be valuable in specific contexts.