Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Ondro likens his guilt-racked migrations to the story of Jonah, who tried futilely to run from God’s message to him.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 26, 2026

Fall River is one of those northern post-industrial cities that’s been futilely trying to reverse decline for decades, first by bulldozing historic neighborhoods to build highways, and now by constructing breweries and farmer’s markets.

From Salon • Dec. 24, 2025

Schoenberg and Stravinsky, for instance, flirted, if futilely, with writing Hollywood film scores.

From Los Angeles Times • May 16, 2025

Some scampered futilely on the treadmill as they did so, but others remained still.

From Science Magazine • Nov. 1, 2023

He had already tried to reach her, tried a thousand different times, even wearing his father’s cursed ring as he grasped, futilely, into the dark.

From "Night Owls" by A.R. Vishny