1
as in unsuccessful
producing no results
the prison is so well guarded that all attempts to escape have been futile
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in silly
lacking in seriousness or maturity
the futile chatter of gossip columnists about the comings and goings of Hollywood celebrities
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Recent Examples of futile
The film may be rife with despair, but its own power is proof that art isn’t entirely futile.
—
Alison Willmore, Vulture, 22 May 2025
But that is how futile and how desolate Tuesday felt.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 May 2025
Cutting spending wasted on a futile pursuit of a global empire is not just a fiscal necessity.
—Ron Paul, Oc Register, 20 May 2025
Desperate Steve Kerr frequently toggled his non-Draymond Green big men as late as the second round of the playoffs in a futile effort to contain the giants of the Minnesota Timberwolves around the rim.
—Alex Kirschenbaum, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for futile
Alison Willmore, Vulture, 22 May 2025
But that is how futile and how desolate Tuesday felt.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 May 2025
Cutting spending wasted on a futile pursuit of a global empire is not just a fiscal necessity.
—Ron Paul, Oc Register, 20 May 2025
Desperate Steve Kerr frequently toggled his non-Draymond Green big men as late as the second round of the playoffs in a futile effort to contain the giants of the Minnesota Timberwolves around the rim.
—Alex Kirschenbaum, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for futile
Recent Examples of Synonyms for futile
Adjective
-
Efforts to reach Suncor officials for this story were unsuccessful.—
Noelle Phillips,
Denver Post,
7 June 2025
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One game after the Oilers were unsuccessful in challenging that Bennett interfered with Stuart Skinner during the game’s first goal, Bennett toppled over Skinner after getting contact from Ekholm later in the period.—
Michael Russo,
New York Times,
7 June 2025
Adjective
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Alas, during one night siege (silly enough to not scare the little ones, even as the entire village repeatedly goes up in flames), Hiccup aims his weapon at the shape of a Night Fury (no one, we’re told repeatedly, as ever really seen one), shoots, and … what!—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
9 June 2025
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Still, sometimes Forrest’s demands seemed nitpicky, silly even.—
Brenna Ehrlich,
Rolling Stone,
8 June 2025
Adjective
-
The bad job, the relaxing sabbatical, the useless degree.—
Jodie Cook,
Forbes.com,
9 June 2025
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Through a charmingly off-kilter blend of 2D aesthetics, the film follows a protagonist who, after catching a highly contagious virus, must abandon her work as a personal assistant to a demanding boss and her duties at home with a useless husband and two needy kids.—
Jamie Lang,
Variety,
7 June 2025
Adjective
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Pair over Bluetooth, drop a shot into the app, add a collage frame or goofy sticker, and in half a minute, a wide-format print pops out.—
Shubham Yewale,
PC Magazine,
27 May 2025
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Willy Memnon, who is endearingly played by Coleman Ray Clark as goofy, childlike and incompetent.—
Pam Kragen,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 May 2025
Adjective
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Castillo’s short novel is a giddy character study of an unpleasant young male type.—
Jasmine Vojdani,
Vulture,
2 June 2025
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Attendees had the chance to film themselves posing against the canola field backdrop from When Life Gives You Tangerines or jumping high into the air like a giddy Thanos with the aid of a Squid Game trampoline.—
Regina Kim,
Forbes.com,
2 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Futile.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/futile. Accessed 13 Jun. 2025.
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