futile

adjective

fu·​tile ˈfyü-tᵊl  ˈfyü-ˌtī(-ə)l 

1

: serving no useful purpose : completely ineffective

efforts to convince him were futile

2

: occupied with trifles : frivolous

futilely

ˈfyü-tᵊl-(l)ē 

-ˌtī(-ə)l-lē

adverb

futileness

ˈfyü-tᵊl-nəs 

-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.

Synonyms

• abortive
• barren
• bootless
• empty
• fruitless
• ineffective
• ineffectual
• inefficacious
• otiose
• profitless
• unavailing
• unproductive
• unprofitable
• unsuccessful
• useless
• vain

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

In my experience, even attempting to get a price estimate beforehand is often futile. —Michael Gfoeller and David H. Rundell, Newsweek, 15 Jan. 2025

Unnecessary pesticides are costly and often futile, and hey may kill beneficial insects and plants. —Beth Botts, Chicago Tribune, 5 Jan. 2025

In long-term and demanding work endeavors, employees can sometimes feel like their efforts are futile. —Kate Wieczorek, Forbes, 30 Nov. 2024

There’s desperation in the air, as Dodgers fans blare car horns in futile attempts to get traffic moving. —Jack Flemming, Los Angeles Times, 26 Oct. 2024

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 *ǵ^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

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Kids Definition

futile

adjective

fu·​tile ˈfyüt-ᵊl  ˈfyü-ˌtīl 

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 

-ˌtīl-lē

adverb

futileness

-ᵊl-nəs 

-ˌtīl-nəs

noun