to no avail

phrase

: without success
They tried to discuss the issue calmly, but to no avail.

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“To no avail.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/to%20no%20avail. Accessed 13 Mar. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on to no avail

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster