Futile - Meaning, Definition & English Examples
Futile means pointless or incapable of producing any useful result. It describes actions or efforts that are ineffective, wasted, or unlikely to succeed, often leading to disappointment.
Definition:
Incapable of producing any useful result, pointless or ineffective.
Synonyms:
fruitless, vain, useless, hopeless
Part of Speech:
adjective
Antonyms:
effective, fruitful, successful
Common Collocations:
futile attempt, futile effort, futile struggle, futile gesture
Derivatives:
futility, futilely
Usage Tips:
Use "futile" to describe actions or efforts that are doomed to fail or have no meaningful outcome.
Common Phrases:
fighting a losing battle, spinning one's wheels, tilting at windmills
Etymology:
From Latin *futilis* ("leaky, worthless"), related to *fundere* ("to pour").
Examples:
- 1. The search for the lost ring proved futile after hours of looking.
- 2. His attempts to convince her were completely futile.
- 3. The team’s efforts felt futile against such strong opponents.
- 4. She realized arguing further would be utterly futile.