unavailing

adjective

un·​avail·​ing ˌən-ə-ˈvā-liŋ How to pronounce unavailing (audio)
: not availing : futile, useless
unavailingly adverb
unavailingness noun

Examples of unavailing in a Sentence

an unavailing effort to avert a war
Recent Examples on the Web The position advanced by the states is legally unavailing as a matter of longstanding and well-established law. WSJ, 25 July 2018 Efforts to aid him with lifeboats, three of which were ineffectually trying to breast the heavy sea, were unavailing, while a lifeline, held by a number of rescuers, was carried far out into the surf by a number of swimmers. sandiegouniontribune.com, 6 May 2018 American demands for an end to the North Korean nuclear program have proved unavailing. Henry A. Kissinger, WSJ, 11 Aug. 2017

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

Word History

First Known Use

1670, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of unavailing was in 1670

Dictionary Entries Near unavailing

Cite this Entry

“Unavailing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unavailing. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

unavailing

adjective
un·​avail·​ing ˌən-ə-ˈvā-liŋ How to pronounce unavailing (audio)
: of no use : not successful : futile
unavailingly adverb
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