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

• ˈfutilely, adverb
• ˈfutileness, noun

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

First, they must be trained, and training large numbers of animals that don’t live very long is expensive, time-consuming, and somewhat futile.

From Nautilus

The Washington Post and 17 other newspapers obtained their own set of the papers from Ellsberg and continued to publish as federal prosecutors dashed from city to city in a futile effort to obtain injunctions that would stop the presses.

From ProPublica

Local leaders protest, but those protests are futile, and rigid new security protocols are enforced.

From Washington Post

Even after Wednesday’s riots, more than 100 lawmakers supported a futile attempt to overturn the election.

From Vox

“We’ve been trying to get ahead of it, and plan and plan and get the details out, and we’ve figured out that that’s a pretty futile effort,” he said.

From Fortune

LONDON—You want to know how awful, futile, and dehumanizing war is?

From The Daily Beast

And that's why nearly all speculation, learned or otherwise, about the future directions of jazz is always futile.

From The Daily Beast

There is probably nothing more futile for a celebrity to attempt than changing their name.

From The Daily Beast

As a result, his rep rehab remains a lonely and futile mission.

From The Daily Beast

Perhaps even the indefatigable John Kerry might be discouraged from more futile and dispiriting peace talks.

From The Daily Beast

Her directness had made all possible 'buts' seem ridiculous and futile, and had made the expression of curiosity seem offensive.

From Project Gutenberg

I kept a stiff backbone for a while, but presently a futile rage against circumstances bubbled up and boiled over.

From Project Gutenberg

And MacRae's patience snapped like a frayed thread before many minutes of futile query.

From Project Gutenberg

Her eyes are in a measure open now, but it is too late, and she rebels in the usual futile feminine way.

From Project Gutenberg

There had been a round year of peace negotiations and futile truces, with warlike preparation in the background.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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