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
But some experts emphasize that the era of synthetic drugs underlines the need to address the root factors that make users seek out drugs, given the futility of targeting a supply that’s constantly expanding and shifting.
—
The Week Us, TheWeek, 18 May 2026
In 1976, the Broncos won nine games, their most regular-season victories ever after 16 years of existing in futility.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 13 May 2026
Advertisement The futility of negotiations is now an open secret.
—Charlie Campbell, Time, 7 May 2026
The Magic’s playoff futility continues.
—Jason Beede, The Orlando Sentinel, 4 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for futility
The Week Us, TheWeek, 18 May 2026
In 1976, the Broncos won nine games, their most regular-season victories ever after 16 years of existing in futility.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 13 May 2026
Advertisement The futility of negotiations is now an open secret.
—Charlie Campbell, Time, 7 May 2026
The Magic’s playoff futility continues.
—Jason Beede, The Orlando Sentinel, 4 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for futility
Recent Examples of Synonyms for futility
Noun
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The goal isn't to restrict agents into uselessness.—
Ajay Pundhir,
Forbes.com,
16 Apr. 2026
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The fear of uselessness explains why the banker Eric Tao (Ken Leung) leaves a cushy retirement to get back to finance, even at the cost of neglecting his kids.—
Spencer Kornhaber,
The Atlantic,
2 Mar. 2026
Noun
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But despite the colorful surroundings, there’s a pervasive hopelessness in this off-kilter world that looks a lot like our own.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
20 May 2026
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Advertisement For decades, the dominant story about Watts was one of pathology and hopelessness.—
Terry McDonell,
Time,
21 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Houston’s pitching staff awoke on Monday with the sport’s highest ERA, a byproduct of injuries to most of their season-opening rotation and the ineffectiveness of those who’ve stayed healthy.—
Chandler Rome,
New York Times,
26 May 2026
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Delaying this only demonstrates the organization’s ineffectiveness in today’s NBA.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The impunity of the powerful was measured by the inefficacy of the outraged.—
Joshua Rothman,
New Yorker,
24 Feb. 2026
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When on day five of his mayoralty Zohran Mamdani acknowledged the inefficacy of homeless sweeps and avowed to end them, street homeless adults, advocates, and attorneys rejoiced.—
Deborah Berkman,
New York Daily News,
24 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Caroline’s anguish and her ineffectuality at making progress in finding Gabriel make for some frustrating moments as a reader.—
John Warner,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Mar. 2026
Noun
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But one series with four minutes remaining highlighted the fruitlessness of this effort.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Aguillard said news reporting in 2024 on serious structural deficiencies inside Sleetmute’s K-12 Jack Egnaty Sr.—
Emily Schwing,
ProPublica,
29 May 2026
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Higher amounts may be used temporarily under medical guidance when correcting a deficiency.—
Morgan Pearson,
Verywell Health,
29 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Futility.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/futility. Accessed 2 Jun. 2026.
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