futile

[fyoot-l, fyoo-tahyl] / ˈfyut l, ˈfyu taɪl /

ADJECTIVE

hopeless, pointless

Synonyms

STRONGEST

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

WEAK

abortive barren bootless delusive empty exhausted forlorn idle impracticable in vain no dice nugatory on a treadmill otiose out the window profitless resultless save one's breath sterile to no avail to no effect to no purpose trifling unavailing unimportant unneeded unreal unsatisfactory unsubstantial valueless

Antonyms

STRONGEST

effective fruitful helpful productive profitable successful useful valuable worthwhile

WEAK

hopeful

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.

While comparisons may seem futile, one stat would suggest Lamine Yamal is on his way to being Messi's worthy heir.

From BBC • Jun. 4, 2026

A team led by Lawrence Kazak at McGill University's Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Institute has now identified the molecular trigger for this alternative system, known as the futile creatine cycle.

From Science Daily • May 12, 2026

Soon after Hitler’s invasion of Poland, Camus inveighed that “it’s always futile to try to disengage, even if it’s from other people’s stupidity and cruelty. You can’t say, ‘I don’t know.’

From The Wall Street Journal • May 8, 2026

His behavior has alarmed free speech advocates, including the FCC’s lone Democratic appointee Anna Gomez, who noted that early station renewal reviews are exceedingly rare and largely futile.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 28, 2026

Doesn’t it seem to say that the outcome was inevitable, and that it would therefore be futile to try to change the outcome today?

From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond

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