1
as in unsuccessful
producing no results
the prison is so well guarded that all attempts to escape have been futile
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of futile
But the job search proved futile, partly due to visa uncertainties and the impacts of the Department of Government Efficiency.
—
David Ferrara, Cincinnati Enquirer, 30 Sep. 2025
The Rockies lost 4-0 to the Giants on Sunday afternoon at Oracle Park, a fitting eulogy to the worst season in franchise history and one of the most futile seasons in baseball’s modern era.
—Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 28 Sep. 2025
Truly, skimping on this step will render everything else futile.
—Essence, 23 Sep. 2025
If the goal is to make Russian aggression futile, then the United States and Europe must channel resources into capabilities that deny, disrupt, and paralyze the Russian military.
—Andriy Zagorodnyuk, Foreign Affairs, 23 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for futile
David Ferrara, Cincinnati Enquirer, 30 Sep. 2025
The Rockies lost 4-0 to the Giants on Sunday afternoon at Oracle Park, a fitting eulogy to the worst season in franchise history and one of the most futile seasons in baseball’s modern era.
—Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 28 Sep. 2025
Truly, skimping on this step will render everything else futile.
—Essence, 23 Sep. 2025
If the goal is to make Russian aggression futile, then the United States and Europe must channel resources into capabilities that deny, disrupt, and paralyze the Russian military.
—Andriy Zagorodnyuk, Foreign Affairs, 23 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for futile
Recent Examples of Synonyms for futile
Adjective
-
Lake Worth police officers and animal control officers searched the area to find the suspect and the brown pit bull but were unsuccessful, police said.—
Shambhavi Rimal,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
12 Oct. 2025
-
After unsuccessful attempts to identify them, the bodies were declared unidentifiable.—
Shannon Tyler,
Idaho Statesman,
10 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
But the tone swings between sour and sweet, grounded and silly, and the jokes run more broadly wacky than precise or original.—
Angie Han,
HollywoodReporter,
13 Oct. 2025
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In my eyes, much of the charm of a craft brewer is a willingness to be a little silly.—
Bradley Hohulin,
IndyStar,
13 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Miles are useless for trying to define how enormous our galaxy is.—
Mike Lynch,
Twin Cities,
12 Oct. 2025
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Advertisement One Battle After Another, Eddington, and The Mastermind all comedically register white men as useless political collaborators.—
Robert Daniels,
Time,
10 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Steven Soderbergh’s revamp of the infamous Rat Pack crime caper is far more assured than the original, which was purely a goofy lark; here, there’s actually some care given to things like character motivation and the dynamics of the central Vegas heist.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
10 Oct. 2025
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Cooper gets considerable humorous mileage out of his goofy stoner role, starting with a guffaw-inducing pratfall entrance involving an exploding carton of oat milk.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
10 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The crash’s giddy prequel, dramatic unfolding, and shattering aftermath—the Great Depression—has long provided compelling material for writers.—
John Cassidy,
New Yorker,
13 Oct. 2025
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That has Plattner in a giddy mood.—
Eric Stephens,
New York Times,
11 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Futile.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/futile. Accessed 16 Oct. 2025.
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