as in uselessness
the quality or state of being useless
The two engaged in a long discussion on the futility of war. He felt saddened by the apparent futility of his efforts to console her.
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Recent Examples of futility
The stunning futility of the Braves shouts opportunity, too.
—
Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Aug. 2025
But despite touching on the disparities of class, income and opportunity in America and the fragility — even futility — of hope for many people barely scraping by, the script’s universal truths land with a soft impact.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 14 Aug. 2025
To say that Babe was – and still is – bigger than life is to engage in senseless futility.
—Eli Amdur, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2025
However, one thing is consistent — trying not to laugh while watching is most often an effort in futility.
—Rick Mauch, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for futility
Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Aug. 2025
But despite touching on the disparities of class, income and opportunity in America and the fragility — even futility — of hope for many people barely scraping by, the script’s universal truths land with a soft impact.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 14 Aug. 2025
To say that Babe was – and still is – bigger than life is to engage in senseless futility.
—Eli Amdur, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2025
However, one thing is consistent — trying not to laugh while watching is most often an effort in futility.
—Rick Mauch, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for futility
Recent Examples of Synonyms for futility
Noun
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Today that sense of hopelessness has been replaced by a sense of determination and a good deal more hope.—
Gabrielle Emanuel,
NPR,
6 Sep. 2025
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Bigelow’s explosively entertaining real-time thriller, told from multiple perspectives at various levels of government from situation room deputies to POTUS (Idris Elba) himself, does not mince on hopelessness.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
2 Sep. 2025
Noun
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He's played just 15 of 32 games and suffered multiple injuries and been benched for ineffectiveness multiple times.—
Michael Gallagher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
20 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Brands that rely solely on AI risk not just irrelevance, but inefficacy.—
Sean DallasKidd,
Forbes.com,
27 Aug. 2025
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As research highlighted the inefficacy and unintended consequences of these laws, states rolled them back or modified them, mostly by partially repealing them or reducing the severity of mandatory sentences.—
John Leverso,
The Conversation,
26 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Most people get a sufficient amount of this key vitamin through their diets alone—biotin can be found in beef liver and eggs, and for those without a biotin deficiency, biotin is unlikely to help.—
Brianna Peters,
Vogue,
6 Sep. 2025
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Folate deficiency in a mother increases the risk of neural tube defects including spina bifida, but the link to autism is unclear.—
Jon Hamilton,
NPR,
6 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Futility.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/futility. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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