futility
noun
fu·til·i·ty
fyü-ˈti-lə-tē 
plural futilities
1
: the quality or state of being futile : uselessness
His speech focused on the futility of violence.
2
: a useless act or gesture
the futilities of debate for its own sake—
W. A. White
W. A. WhiteExamples of futility in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
It’s been three full weeks of offensive futility, a slump plaguing nearly the entire roster.
—Sam Blum, New York Times, 3 May 2025
There were veiled references to the American positions throughout the conference, though delegates were reluctant to openly criticize the U.S.
Later, U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer spoke of the futility of seeking to turn the clock back to a world that no longer exists.
—Christine Ro, Forbes.com, 25 Apr. 2025
Not all wars are conducted at such a high intensity as the Russian-Ukrainian war, but even prolonged irregular warfare can take a heavy toll, resulting in a growing sense of futility in addition to mounting costs.
—Lawrence D. Freedman, Foreign Affairs, 14 Apr. 2025
This might be a force more toward fascism that restricts elections to the point of futility, as in Venezuela and Russia.
—Jennifer Victor, The Conversation, 26 Mar. 2025
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Sam Blum, New York Times, 3 May 2025
There were veiled references to the American positions throughout the conference, though delegates were reluctant to openly criticize the U.S.
Later, U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer spoke of the futility of seeking to turn the clock back to a world that no longer exists.
—Christine Ro, Forbes.com, 25 Apr. 2025
Not all wars are conducted at such a high intensity as the Russian-Ukrainian war, but even prolonged irregular warfare can take a heavy toll, resulting in a growing sense of futility in addition to mounting costs.
—Lawrence D. Freedman, Foreign Affairs, 14 Apr. 2025
This might be a force more toward fascism that restricts elections to the point of futility, as in Venezuela and Russia.
—Jennifer Victor, The Conversation, 26 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for futility
Cite this Entry
“Futility.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/futility. Accessed 18 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
futility
noun
fu·til·i·ty
ˌfyu̇-ˈtil-ət-ē
plural futilities
1
: the quality or state of being futile
2
: a useless act
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