Useless vs Nonsense - What's the difference?
useless | nonsense |
Without use or possibility to be used.
Unhelpful, not useful; pointless (of an action).
(pejorative, of a person) good-for-nothing; not dependable.
(colloquial, of a person) unable to do well at a particular task or thing. Useless is mildly insulting.
Letters or words, in writing or speech, that have no meaning or seem to have no meaning.
An untrue statement.
Something foolish.
* 2008 , "Nick Leeson has some lessons for this collapse", Telegraph.co.uk, Oct 9, 2008
(literature) A type of poetry that contains strange or surreal ideas, as, for example, that written by .
(biology) A damaged DNA sequence whose products are not biologically active, that is, that does nothing.
To make nonsense of
* Bernard Shaw, "The Red Robe", in James Huneker ed., Dramatic Opinions and Essays by G. Bernard Shaw , volume II, page 73:
To attempt to dismiss as nonsense.
* 1997 , "Rockies respond to whip", Denver Post , Jun 3, 1997:
* 2000 , Leon Garfield, Jason Cockcroft, Jack Holborn , page 131:
* 2006 , Sierra Leone: Petroleum Unit Calls for Auditing , AllAfrica.com, Mar 17, 2006:
To joke around, to waste time
* 1963 , C. F. Griffin, The Impermanence of Heroes , page 170:
Resulting from the substitution of a nucleotide in a sense codon, causing it to become a stop codon (not coding for an amino-acid).
As adjectives the difference between useless and nonsense
is that useless is without use or possibility to be used while nonsense is resulting from the substitution of a nucleotide in a sense codon, causing it to become a stop codon (not coding for an amino-acid).As a noun nonsense is
letters or words, in writing or speech, that have no meaning or seem to have no meaning.As a verb nonsense is
to make nonsense of.useless
English
Adjective
(en-adj)- This fork has prongs that are bent. It's useless now.
- I think it's useless to keep this discussion going. It's like talking to a wall.
- I tried my best to make him quit smoking, but my efforts were useless . He now smokes six packs a day.
- Bill never mows the lawn, takes out the trash or anything. He's useless , but I love him anyways.
- My brother is useless at most computer games, but he is an awesome PS2 player.
- Why do you keep trying? You're obviously useless at it.
Synonyms
* (good-for-nothing) good-for-nothing * (unable to do well) unskillfulAntonyms
* skillful, usefulDerived terms
* uselessly * uselessnessnonsense
English
Alternative forms
* nonsence (archaic)Noun
(wikipedia nonsense) (en-noun)- After my father had a stroke, every time he tried to talk, it sounded like nonsense .
- He says that I stole his computer, but that's just nonsense .
- and central banks lend vast sums against marshmallow backed securities, or other nonsenses creative bankers dreamed up.
Synonyms
: See * (something that lacks meaning or absurd statement) ** (mostly colloquialisms or slang) balderdash, baloney, bull, bulldust, bunk, codswallop, drivel, gibberish, hogwash, hooey (US), horse hockey, malarkey, manure, poppycock, prattle, rhubarb (chiefly British), rubbish, twaddle ** (vulgar slang) bollocks (British), bullshit, crap, horseshit (US)Derived terms
* nonsensical * nonsensification * nonsensifySee also
* (biology) missenseVerb
(nonsens)- At the Haymarket all this is nonsensed by an endeavor to steer between Mr. Stanley Weyman's rights as author of the story and the prescriptive right of the leading actor to fight popularly and heroically against heavy odds.
- "They haven't nonsensed these workouts. They've taken them and used them very well. I didn't know how they'd respond, but they've responded."
- Very commanding: very much 'end of this nonsensing' . Mister Fared spread his hands and shook his thin head imperceptibly, as if to say he understood
- He further nonsensed press suggestions that the Petroleum Unit was set up to assist in the administration of sporting activities.
- When he meant "go and get one" he said to go and get one, with no nonsensing around about "liking" to get one.