exercise in futility
noun phrase
: an activity that is not successful or worthwhile
The negotiations turned out to be an exercise in futility.
Examples of exercise in futility in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
At some point, the effort ceases to be practical policy and becomes an exercise in futility.
—
Andy J. Semotiuk, Forbes.com, 22 Apr. 2026
So this annual four-day event at Mohegan Sun Arena tends to be an exercise in futility for the other 10 teams, though Villanova, at least, figures to join the Huskies in the NCAA Tournament, and a rite of passage into March Madness for UConn.
—Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 10 Mar. 2026
As the teams are announced, stewards sponge off the water pooling on seats, an exercise in futility.
—George Caulkin, New York Times, 11 Feb. 2026
Ursula von der Leyen ⬆ Getting 27 member nations to agree on anything has been the daily exercise in futility for any European Commission president.
—Newsweek Editors, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2025
For now, this shutdown seems likely to end like so many before — as an exercise in futility.
—W. James Antle Iii, The Washington Examiner, 11 Nov. 2025
But to others, the shutdown had become an exercise in futility.
—Nik Popli, Time, 10 Nov. 2025
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Andy J. Semotiuk, Forbes.com, 22 Apr. 2026
So this annual four-day event at Mohegan Sun Arena tends to be an exercise in futility for the other 10 teams, though Villanova, at least, figures to join the Huskies in the NCAA Tournament, and a rite of passage into March Madness for UConn.
—Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 10 Mar. 2026
As the teams are announced, stewards sponge off the water pooling on seats, an exercise in futility.
—George Caulkin, New York Times, 11 Feb. 2026
Ursula von der Leyen ⬆ Getting 27 member nations to agree on anything has been the daily exercise in futility for any European Commission president.
—Newsweek Editors, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2025
For now, this shutdown seems likely to end like so many before — as an exercise in futility.
—W. James Antle Iii, The Washington Examiner, 11 Nov. 2025
But to others, the shutdown had become an exercise in futility.
—Nik Popli, Time, 10 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Exercise in futility.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/exercise%20in%20futility. Accessed 14 May. 2026.
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