futile

[ fyoot-l, fyoo-tahyl ]

/ ˈfyut l, ˈfyu taɪl /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR futile ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

incapable of producing any result; ineffective; useless; not successful: Attempting to force-feed the sick horse was futile.

trifling; frivolous; unimportant.

Nearby words

fusuma, fut., futabatei, futcher's line, futhark, futile, futilitarian, futility, futon, futsal, futtock

Origin of futile

1545–55; < Latin fūtilis, futtilis easily broken, vain, worthless, equivalent to fūt- (akin to fundere to pour, melt) + -ilis -ile

SYNONYMS FOR futile

1 See useless.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR futile ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

fu·tile·ly, adverbfu·tile·ness, nounnon·fu·tile, adjectiveun·fu·tile, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for futile

LONDON—You want to know how awful, futile, and dehumanizing war is?
‘Fury’: A Ludicrous WWII Movie More Violent Than ‘Inglourious Basterds’|Nico Hines|October 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
As a result, his rep rehab remains a lonely and futile mission.
Three Dicks: Cheney, Nixon, Richard III and the Art of Reputation Rehab|Clive Irving|July 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The absurdity of North Korea now extends to its futile attempt to anticipate the whims of Mother Nature.
Kim Jong-un Wants a New Doppler 2000|Kevin Bleyer|June 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Their hope that this means the spotlight stays off them, however, will be futile: Brutally put, the papers prefer them to Charles.
Calm Down, Prince George Is Just a Baby|Tim Teeman|April 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST

When he finally became president, Nixon walked away from that war to prolong a futile one half a world away.
100 Years of Right (And Left) Moves|Robert Shrum|March 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
At present it is largely engaged in the futile task of Sisyphus.
Moral Principles in Education|John Dewey
He found an occasional momentary satisfaction in burned cork, but the joy was futile, and impermanent.
Despair's Last Journey|David Christie Murray
They sat on their haunches in the snow, and grinned at the whip-crackings and futile "Mush, mush!"
The Magnetic North|Elizabeth Robins (C. E. Raimond)
For you stand or stray in the futile building, while the cloud is no mansion for man, and out of reach of his limitations.
The Colour of Life|Alice Meynell
Yes, to-day this seems a practical fact that already is being accomplished, and not a futile speculation.
The Truth About Woman|C. Gasquoine Hartley

British Dictionary definitions for futile

futile

/ (ˈfjuːtaɪl) /

adjective

having no effective result; unsuccessful

pointless; unimportant; trifling

inane or foolishdon't be so futile!

Derived Forms

futilely, adverbfutileness, noun

Word Origin for futile

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

futile

adjective

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Nearby words

Origin of futile

SYNONYMS FOR futile

Related forms

Examples from the Web for futile

British Dictionary definitions for futile

futile

adjective

Derived Forms

Word Origin for futile