Word of the Day: Futile

fu·tile: adjective \ˈfyü-t^əl, ˈfyü-ˌtī(-ə)l\

: having no result or effect : pointless or useless

Full Definition of FUTILE

1:  serving no useful purpose :  completely ineffective <efforts to convince him were futile>

2:  occupied with trifles :  frivolous

— fu·tile·ly adverb

— fu·tile·ness noun

Examples of FUTILE

1. All our efforts proved futile.
2. a futile and foolish gesture
3. In a digitized land of national ID cards, dropping out will be impossible, and dreaming about it will be futile. —Walter Kirn, Atlantic, May 2002
4. [+]more

Origin of FUTILE

Middle French or Latin; Middle French, from Latin futilis brittle, pointless, probably from fu- (akin to fundere to pour) — more at found

First Known Use: circa 1555

Related to FUTILE

Synonyms

abortive, barren, bootless, empty, fruitless, ineffective, ineffectual, inefficacious, otiose, profitless, unavailing, unproductive, unprofitable, unsuccessful, useless, vain, in vain, no dice, not worth the candle, of no avail