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futile

adjective
fu·​tile | \ ˈfyü-tᵊl How to pronounce futile (audio) , ˈfyü-ËŒtÄ«(-É™)l How to pronounce futile (audio) \

Definition of futile

1 : serving no useful purpose : completely ineffective efforts to convince him were futile
2 : occupied with trifles : frivolous
Other Words from futile Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about futile

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Other Words from futile

futilely \ ˈfyü-​tᵊl-​(l)Ä“ How to pronounce futilely (audio) , -​ËŒtÄ«(-​É™)l-​lÄ“ \ adverb
futileness \ ˈfyü-​tᵊl-​nÉ™s How to pronounce futileness (audio) , -​ËŒtÄ«(-​É™)l-​nÉ™s \ noun

Choose the Right Synonym for futile

futile, vain, fruitless mean producing no result. futile may connote completeness of failure or unwisdom of undertaking. resistance had proved so futile that surrender was the only choice left vain usually implies simple failure to achieve a desired result. a vain attempt to get the car started fruitless comes close to vain but often suggests long and arduous effort or severe disappointment. fruitless efforts to obtain a lasting peace

Examples of futile in a Sentence

In a digitized land of national ID cards, dropping out will be impossible, and dreaming about it will be futile. — Walter Kirn, Atlantic, May 2002 After Redemption and disfranchisement destroyed black political influence, open challenges to white supremacy were futile and dangerous. — Adam Fairclough, Journal of American History, June 2000 In some futile bid for gentility, the management has barred employees from using the front door, so my first day I enter through the kitchen … — Barbara Ehrenreich, Harper's, January 1999 In 1845 explorer Charles Sturt led an expedition through these parts on a futile search for an inland sea. — Thomas O'Neill, National Geographic, April 1997 All our efforts proved futile. a futile and foolish gesture
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Recent Examples on the Web

 Now those efforts spanning seven decades and 12.5 million cubic yards of sand may prove to be futile. — Daniel Cusick, Scientific American, "Dorian Takes A Swipe at Beach Replenishment Projects," 6 Sep. 2019 The mostly young protesters say that a degree of violence is necessary to get the government's attention after peaceful rallies were futile. — Katie Tam, chicagotribune.com, "Hong Kong has withdrawn an extradition bill that sparked months of protests," 4 Sep. 2019 The tiger slowly moved its paws in a futile attempt to block the blows. — New York Times, "Tiger Is Beaten to Death on Video, Outraging India," 26 July 2019 A few days later, China ended its increasingly futile efforts to keep the value of the yuan artificially high relative to the U.S. dollar. — Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, "Real World Economics: China manipulates the yuan, but not in the direction the U.S. charges," 10 Aug. 2019 So Buttigieg has been left with the futile task of trying to scratch an emotional itch for a grieving community with few options at his disposal, but the eyes of the national media and the Democratic primary electorate watching. — NBC News, "Buttigieg learns the hazards of campaigning for president as a mayor," 24 June 2019 And their offense is back to looking as futile as ever. — Dave Hyde, sun-sentinel.com, "Hyde5: Rules make U.S. soccer run up score — so change the rules," 12 June 2019 But the storm of a) her mother’s lack of compassion, b) Fred’s futile pleading, and c) June’s war-speech might be enough to make Serena go revolutionary again. — Elena Nicolaou, refinery29.com, "The Handmaid's Tale," 7 June 2019 Thirty-six others were injured, some of them critically, in a blaze that sent people scrambling up the stairs toward the roof in a desperate -- and futile -- attempt to escape what proved to be Japan's deadliest fire in nearly two decades. — Dallas News, "Man shouting, 'You die,' kills 33 in fire set at Japan animation studio," 18 July 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'futile.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of futile

circa 1555, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for futile

borrowed from Middle French & Latin; Middle French, borrowed from Latin fūtilis, futtilis "brittle, fragile (of containers), serving no purpose, pointless," perhaps (if original sense was "leaky") from fū- (going back to Indo-European *ǵheu̯- "pour, shed") + -tilis "obtained by, characterized by (the action of the verb)" — more at found entry 5

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More Definitions for futile

futile

adjective
How to pronounce futile (audio) How to pronounce futile (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of futile

: having no result or effect : pointless or useless

See the full definition for futile in the English Language Learners Dictionary

futile

adjective
fu·​tile | \ ˈfyü-tᵊl How to pronounce futile (audio) \

Kids Definition of futile

: having no result or effect Their efforts to win were futile.

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