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futile

[ fyoot-l, fyoo-tahyl ]
/ ˈfyut l, ˈfyu taÉȘl /
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See synonyms for: futile / futilely 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.
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Origin of futile

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

synonym study for futile

1. See useless.

OTHER WORDS FROM futile

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. 2023

How to use futile in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for futile

futile
/ (ˈfjuːtaÉȘl) /

adjective
having no effective result; unsuccessful
pointless; unimportant; trifling
inane or foolishdon't be so futile!

Derived forms of futile

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
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