Quick Definition
ἀχρεῖος, ον Adj unprofitable, useless, unworthy
Strong's Definition
from 1 (as a negative particle) and a derivative of 5534 (compare 5532); useless, i.e. (euphemistically) unmeritorious
KJV Usage: unprofitable
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament
adjc. | -ον | ἀ- + χράομαι
65.33 · Value · Useful, Useless
useless, not useful, worthless pertaining to not being useful In a number of languages usefulness or lack of usefulness can only be expressed in terms of a verb meaning ‘to help,’ so that in PHM 1:11 it may be necessary to translate ‘at one time he did not help you at all and now he can help both you and me.’
33.361 · Communication · Praise
not deserving special praise, not worthy of particular commendation pertaining to being without such qualities as deserve praise or commendation
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament © United Bible Societies, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
ἀχρεῖος, -ov, (χρεῖος useful), useless, good for nothing: Mt. xxv. 30 (δοῦλος, ef. Plat. Ale. i. 17 p. 122 b. τῶν οἰκετῶν τὸν ἀχρειότατον) ; by an hyperbole of pious modesty in Lk. xvii. 10 ‘the servant’ calls himself aypetov, because, although he has done all, yet he has done nothing except what he ought to have done; accordingly he possesses no merit, and could only claim to be called ‘profitable,’ should he do more than what he is bound to do; cf. Bengel ad loc. (Often in Grk. writ. fr. Hom. down; Xen. mem. 1, 2, 54 ἀχρεῖον καὶ ἀνωφελές. Sept. 2 S. vi. 22 equiv. to aw low, base.) [Syn. cf. Tittmann ii. p. 11 sq.; Ellic. on Philem. 11.]
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
ἀχρεῖος achreios 2x
useless, unprofitable, worthless, Mt. 25:30; unmeritorious, Lk. 17:10*
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
ἀ-χρεῖος, -ον
(< χρεῖος, useful), [in LXX: II Ki 6:22 (שָׁפָל), Ep. Je 17*;]
useless, unprofitable: Mt 25:30, Lk 17:10 (MM, s.v.).†
Liddell-Scott-Jones — Greek-English Lexicon
ἀχρεῖος (achreios) — worthless. ἀχρεῖος (Attic dialect ἄχρειος accusative to Hdn.Gr. 1.136), ον, also α, ον [Refs 1st c.AD+]: Ionic dialect ἀχρήϊος:— useless, unprofitable, ἀχρήϊος ἀνήρ[Refs 8th c.BC+]; ἐπέων νομός[Refs 5th c.BC+]; opposed to εὐγενής, [Refs]; ἐρινὸς ἀ. ὢν ἐς βρῶσιν[NT+5th c.BC+]: comparative -ότερος, ὄρνιθες[Refs 3rd c.BC+]: with infinitive, unfit to do, ἀ. πράττειν τι[Refs 5th c.BC+]
2. especially unfit for war, ἀ. ὅμιλος[Refs 5th c.BC+]; τὸ ἀ. τοῦ στρατοῦ the unserviceable part of an army, [Refs 5th c.BC+]. adverb -είως, ἔχειν πρὸς ναυμαχίαν[Refs 2nd c.AD+]
II. neuter ἀχρεῖον, as adverb, twice in [Refs 8th c.BC+] giving a helpless look, looking foolish, of Thersites after being beaten, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; ἀχρεῖον δ᾽ ἐγέλασσε laughed without cause, made a forced laugh, of Penelope trying to disguise her feelings, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; ἀχρεῖον κλάζειν bark without need or cause, [Refs 3rd c.BC+]
III. adverb ἀχρείως γέλασόν με (compare ἀχρειόγελως) [Refs 4th c.AD+]: neuter plural as adverb ἀχρεῖ᾽ ἀσπαίροντος helplessly, [Refs 3rd c.BC+]