futile

[fyoot-l, fyoo-tahyl]

adjective

1. incapable of producing any result; ineffective; useless; not successful.

   Attempting to force-feed the sick horse was futile.

2. trifling; frivolous; unimportant.

futile

/ ˈfjuːtaɪl /

adjective

1. having no effective result; unsuccessful

2. pointless; unimportant; trifling

3. inane or foolish

   don't be so futile!

Other Word Forms

• futilely adverb
• futileness noun
• nonfutile adjective
• unfutile adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of futile¹

First recorded in 1545–55; from Latin fūtilis, futtilis “easily broken, vain, worthless,” equivalent to fūt- (akin to fundere “to pour, melt”) + -ilis -ile

Word History and Origins

Origin of futile¹

C16: from Latin futtilis pouring out easily, worthless, from fundere to pour out

Synonym Study

See useless.

Example Sentences

"Another futile attempt to breach the legal naval blockade and enter a combat zone ended in nothing," Israel's foreign ministry said.

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But in its exhausting pursuit of technical perfection, “The Smashing Machine” merely mirrors its subject’s journey, losing sight of its goal for a futile shot at glory.

Read more on Salon

"We are concerned that futile political gestures will only antagonise the government and frustrate punters instead of delivering a solution to a shared challenge facing both racing and betting."

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Though it may feel futile, Mayor Karen Bass is encouraging residents to beautify the streets for the 2028 Olympics, and joined Mather at a cleanup event in Sherman Oaks earlier this year.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

In his late 70s and reportedly in poor health, he may have reasoned that it was futile to continue to claim his innocence, especially given Guzmán's conviction and life sentence in 2019.

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Related Words

• fruitless 
• hollow 
• impractical 
• ineffective 
• ineffectual 
• insufficient 
• trivial 
• unproductive 
• unprofitable 
• unsuccessful 
• useless 
• vain 
• worthless