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!

Derived Forms

• ˈfutileness, noun
• ˈfutilely, adverb

Other Words From

• futile·ly adverb
• futile·ness noun
• non·futile adjective
• un·futile 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

Drumming up enough U.S. consumer interest in food made from waste will require a pitch that goes beyond the increasingly futile message "this is better for the planet."

From Salon

Kyle, Dailey and Aday Mara all took futile turns against their Lobos counterpart who had 14 points by halftime while making four of five shots.

From Los Angeles Times

Add to that the fact that saving for retirement is, in the U.S., a lot of work, and the whole thing seems like a futile exercise.

From Salon

Two deputies and a jail nurse entered her cell and began resuscitation efforts, but it was futile.

From Los Angeles Times

Trump’s attempts to distance himself from Hinchcliffe’s comments seem futile given the entire rally at MSG was filled with xenophobic bigotry and offensive humor.

From Salon

Related Words

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