Definitions

to no avail

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fruitless adj.
futile adj.
unavailing adj.

ADJECTIVE

fruitless

Synonyms

STRONGEST

abortive futile ineffective ineffectual pointless unproductive unsuccessful useless

WEAK

barren empty gainless idle in vain infertile profitless spinning one's wheels sterile to no effect unavailable unavailing unfruitful unprofitable unprolific vain

Antonyms

STRONGEST

effective effectual fruitful productive profitable

WEAK

copious plentiful potent successful useful

ADJECTIVE

futile

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 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

ADJECTIVE

unavailing

Synonyms

WEAK

barren empty exhausted fruitless idle impractical in vain ineffective ineffectual on a treadmill save one's breath to no effect to no purpose trifling trivial unproductive unprofitable unsuccessful useless vain valueless worthless

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.

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to no avail

“One time I thought I had a helicopter in my driveway,” said Nancy Monzidelis, a longtime Larchmont resident who has contacted the Federal Aviation Administration to no avail.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 18, 2026

Concerned employees reportedly ran the story by the outlet’s standards department, to no avail.

From Salon ● Sep. 2, 2026

She called her mother, an off-duty GP, who attended the scene, and two further emergency calls were made, to no avail.

From BBC ● Aug. 28, 2026

Authorities searched for her within the state park from July 9 to 11 to no avail.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 14, 2026

He throttled that doorknob, but all to no avail.

From "How the García Girls Lost Their Accents" by Julia Alvarez

to no avail

Example Sentences

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