1
: serving no useful purpose : completely ineffective
efforts to convince him were futile
2
: occupied with trifles : frivolous
futilely
ˈfyü-tᵊl-(l)ē How to pronounce futile (audio)
-ˌtī(-ə)l-lē
adverb
futileness
ˈfyü-tᵊl-nəs How to pronounce futile (audio)
-ˌtī(-ə)l-nəs
noun

Did you know?

Attempts to pinpoint the first use of the phrase “resistance is futile” may ultimately be futile—that is, pointless or in vain—but that hasn’t stopped folks from trying. Popular in movies and television series from Star Trek to Stargate, Veronica Mars to Napoleon Dynamite, the slogan is often uttered by an antagonist who wants to make it clear in no uncertain terms that they will be the one to prevail in the onscreen struggle. Some people point to a 1976 episode of Doctor Who in which a character called The Master says “Resistance is futile now,” while others prefer the quote without the now, holding up a 1977 episode of Space: 1999 as being the first to feature it. However, author Randall Garrett had both shows beat in his 1961 short story “The Highest Treason,” in which a character says “Not if they … can prove that resistance is futile.” Despite its clear importance to futuristic science fiction, however, the word futile has ancient roots. It comes from the Latin adjective fūtilis/futtilis, which was used to describe things that are brittle or fragile and, by extension, serve no purpose. These meanings survive in the English word futile, which denotes ineffectiveness.

Choose the Right Synonym for futile

futile, vain, fruitless mean producing no result.

futile may connote completeness of failure or unwisdom of undertaking.

resistance had proved so futile that surrender was the only choice left

vain usually implies simple failure to achieve a desired result.

a vain attempt to get the car started

fruitless comes close to vain but often suggests long and arduous effort or severe disappointment.

fruitless efforts to obtain a lasting peace

Examples of futile in a Sentence

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
After Redemption and disfranchisement destroyed black political influence, open challenges to white supremacy were futile and dangerous. Adam Fairclough, Journal of American History, June 2000
In some futile bid for gentility, the management has barred employees from using the front door, so my first day I enter through the kitchen … Barbara Ehrenreich, Harper's, January 1999
In 1845 explorer Charles Sturt led an expedition through these parts on a futile search for an inland sea. Thomas O'Neill, National Geographic, April 1997
All our efforts proved futile. a futile and foolish gesture
Recent Examples on the Web Defending himself, Musk said it was meant merely to highlight how futile such an endeavor would be. Christiaan Hetzner, Fortune, 8 Oct. 2024 Additionally, remaining silent or giving up after futile efforts to enforce accountability can be easy. Simone E. Morris, Forbes, 12 Sep. 2024 Putting too much effort into trying to change someone will be futile. Eugenia Last, The Mercury News, 26 Sep. 2024 When the franchise’s eventual plans to move to Las Vegas began to seem real, Bobbitt helped organize futile lawsuits to block the relocation. Shomik Mukherjee, The Mercury News, 29 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for futile 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'futile.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Middle French & Latin; Middle French, borrowed from Latin fūtilis, futtilis "brittle, fragile (of containers), serving no purpose, pointless," perhaps (if original sense was "leaky") from fū- (going back to Indo-European heu̯- "pour, shed") + -tilis "obtained by, characterized by (the action of the verb)" — more at found entry 5

First Known Use

circa 1555, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of futile was circa 1555

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Dictionary Entries Near futile

Cite this Entry

“Futile.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/futile. Accessed 2 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

futile

adjective
1
: having no result or effect : useless
all our efforts proved futile
a futile and foolish gesture
2
: concerned with unimportant matters
futile pleasures
futilely
-ᵊl-(l)ē How to pronounce futile (audio)
-ˌtīl-lē
adverb
futileness
-ᵊl-nəs How to pronounce futile (audio)
-ˌtīl-nəs
noun

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