"otiose lines in a play"
"advice is wasted words"
"a pointless remark"
"a life essentially purposeless"
"senseless violence"

"a futile effort"
"the therapy was ineffectual"
"an otiose undertaking"
"an unavailing attempt"

"faineant kings under whose rule the country languished"
"an indolent hanger-on"
"too lazy to wash the dishes"
"shiftless idle youth"
"slothful employees"
"the unemployed are not necessarily work-shy"