Definitions for futile
ˈfyut l, ˈfyu taɪlfu·tile

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:5.0 / 1 vote

1. futile, ineffectual, otiose, unavailingadjective

   producing no result or effect

   "a futile effort"; "the therapy was ineffectual"; "an otiose undertaking"; "an unavailing attempt"

2. bootless, fruitless, futile, sleeveless, vainadjective

   unproductive of success

   "a fruitless search"; "futile years after her artistic peak"; "a sleeveless errand"; "a vain attempt"

WiktionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. futileadjective

   Incapable of producing results; useless; not successful; not worth attempting.

2. Etymology: From futilis.

Samuel Johnson's DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. FUTILEadjective

   Etymology: futile, French; futilis, Latin.

   1. Talkative; loquacious.

   One futile person, that maketh it his glory to tell, will do more hurt than many that know it their duty to conceal. Francis Bacon.

   2. Trifling; worthless; of no weight.

ChatGPTRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. futile

   Futile refers to something that is incapable of producing any useful result; pointless or ineffective. It is often used to describe attempts or actions that are bound to fail or not lead to a favorable outcome.

Webster DictionaryRate this definition:3.0 / 1 vote

1. Futileverb

   talkative; loquacious; tattling

2. Futileverb

   of no importance; answering no useful end; useless; vain; worthless

3. Etymology: [L. futilis that easily pours out, that easily lets loose, vain, worthless, from the root of fundere to pour out: cf. F. futile. See Fuse, v. t.]

Chambers 20th Century DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Futile

   fū′tīl, adj. useless: unavailing: trifling.—adv. Fū′tilely.—ns. Futilitā′rian, one who gives himself to profitless pursuits; Futil′ity, uselessness. [Fr.,—L. futilis—fundĕre, to pour.]

Editors ContributionRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. futileverb

   useless, pointless

   It is futile to blame workers.

   
   

   Submitted by anonymous on November 11, 2021  

How to pronounce futile?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say futile in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of futile in Chaldean Numerology is: 9

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of futile in Pythagorean Numerology is: 1

Examples of futile in a Sentence

1. Nancy Pelosi:

   With only four legislative days left until the Republican Homeland Security Shutdown, Speaker Boehner made it clear that Speaker Boehner has no plan to avoid a government shutdown, the speaker's reliance on talking points and finger-pointing was a sad reflection of the fact that the Tea Party continues to hold the gavel as Senate Democrats insist on Senate Democrats futile anti-immigrant grandstanding.

2. Robert Smith:

   Knowing that everything's futile but still fighting, still raging against the dying of the light -- that's what motivates me all the time ... If you hold that sense of futility in your head for too long, it can begin to eat into you. You can still be aware of it but find a place for it where you can actually exist comfortably and enjoy things.

3. Yukio Mishima:

   If we value so highly the dignity of life, how can we not also value the dignity of death No death may be called futile.

4. Ken Owen:

   Once in five years we get a chance to voice our disapproval, a futile exercise.

5. Josephine Hart, "Sin":

   We are here to add to the sum of human goodness. To prove the thing exists. And however futile each individual act of courage or generosity, self-sacrifice or grace-it still proves the thing exists. Each act adds to the fund. It needs replenishment. Not only because evil flourishes, and is, most indefensibly, defended. But because goodness is no longer a respectable aim in life. The hound of hell, envy, has driven it from the house.

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