unavailing

[uhn-uh-vey-ling] / ˌʌn əˈveɪ lɪŋ /

ADJECTIVE

futile

Synonyms

WEAK

barren empty exhausted fruitless idle impractical in vain ineffective ineffectual on a treadmill save one's breath to no avail 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.

As part of their unavailing effort, the judges quoted a 1940 speech then-U.S.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 27, 2025

But despite said indignities, Italian Americans’ quest for affirmative action has been mostly unavailing.

From Washington Post • Nov. 30, 2022

Repeated attempts to reach the church and its pastor, Jared Lett, were unavailing.

From Washington Times • Dec. 23, 2021

Equally unavailing is the majority’s reliance on the Proclamation’s waiver program.

From Slate • Jun. 26, 2018

I woke Madam Mina, and again tried to hypnotise her; but alas! unavailing till too late.

From "Dracula" by Bram Stoker