as in futile
producing no results
an unavailing effort to avert a war
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of unavailing
The position advanced by the states is legally unavailing as a matter of longstanding and well-established law.
—
WSJ, 25 July 2018
Efforts to aid him with lifeboats, three of which were ineffectually trying to breast the heavy sea, were unavailing, while a lifeline, held by a number of rescuers, was carried far out into the surf by a number of swimmers.
—sandiegouniontribune.com, 6 May 2018
American demands for an end to the North Korean nuclear program have proved unavailing.
—Henry A. Kissinger, WSJ, 11 Aug. 2017
WSJ, 25 July 2018
Efforts to aid him with lifeboats, three of which were ineffectually trying to breast the heavy sea, were unavailing, while a lifeline, held by a number of rescuers, was carried far out into the surf by a number of swimmers.
—sandiegouniontribune.com, 6 May 2018
American demands for an end to the North Korean nuclear program have proved unavailing.
—Henry A. Kissinger, WSJ, 11 Aug. 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unavailing
Adjective
-
Attempts by deputies and paramedics to revive him were futile, and he was pronounced dead at 4:40 p.m.—
Kelly Davis,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
5 Aug. 2025
-
Even finding enough people to fill all the jobs that would be needed would be futile, given the size of the workforce and the unemployment rate.—
Sheldon H. Jacobson,
Twin Cities,
23 July 2025
Adjective
-
As in the first case, life-saving efforts were unsuccessful.—
Theresa Braine,
New York Daily News,
18 Aug. 2025
-
Although previous appeals have been unsuccessful, Arias has consistently expressed a desire to overturn her conviction.—
Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
17 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Infrastructure is useless without operators who can manage it.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
5 Aug. 2025
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The deals typically provide revenue for the host community while enabling the solar industry to cover essentially useless land with solar panels rather than taking out-of-service farmland, open fields or similar space.—
Don Stacom,
Hartford Courant,
5 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Unavailing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unavailing. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.
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