futile
/'fju:tail/
Definition
- Adjective:
- Incapable of producing any useful result; pointless or ineffective: Describes an action, effort, or endeavor that is completely unsuccessful or has no chance of success.
- Trivial or of little importance; frivolous: Describes something that lacks seriousness or value.
Usage and Examples
- Describing an ineffective action or effort:
- After hours of searching, they realized their efforts were futile.
- It is futile to argue with someone who refuses to listen.
- Describing something trivial or frivolous:
- He was tired of their futile chatter about meaningless gossip.
Advanced Usage
- "to be futile": to be completely useless or without purpose.
- Resistance against the new policy proved to be futile.
- "a futile gesture": an action that is symbolic but has no practical effect.
- His apology was seen as nothing more than a futile gesture.
Variants and Related Words
- Futility (noun): The quality of being futile; pointlessness or ineffectiveness.
- He was struck by the futility of the war.
- Futilely (adverb): In a futile manner.
- She futilely tried to convince them.
Synonyms
- Vain: Producing no result; useless. (e.g., a attempt)
- Ineffectual: Not producing any or the desired effect.
- Unavailing: Achieving little or nothing; ineffective.
- Pointless: Having little or no sense, use, or purpose.
- Barren: Completely ineffective; unproductive.
Antonyms
- Effective: Successful in producing a desired or intended result.
- Fruitful: Producing good or helpful results; productive.
- Useful: Able to be used for a practical purpose or in several ways.
- Productive: Achieving or producing a significant amount or result.
Idioms and Phrases
- A futile exercise: An activity that is a complete waste of time and effort.
- Trying to please everyone is a futile exercise.
- Like trying to bail out the ocean with a teaspoon: An idiom describing a futile task.
- Fixing this old car is like trying to bail out the ocean with a teaspoon.
Adjective
-
unproductive of success
-
a fruitless search
-
futile years after her artistic peak
-
a sleeveless errand
-
a vain attempt
-
-
producing no result or effect
-
a futile effort
-
the therapy was ineffectual
-
an otiose undertaking
-
an unavailing attempt
-
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