futility
noun
fu·til·i·ty
fyü-ˈti-lə-tē 
plural futilities
1
: the quality or state of being futile : uselessness
His speech focused on the futility of violence.
2
: a useless act or gesture
the futilities of debate for its own sake—
W. A. White
W. A. WhiteExamples of futility in a Sentence
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The futility of this escalating trade war is working exactly as predicted by Reagan.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 8 Apr. 2025
Still, there’s something heroic about Kosuth’s lifelong devotion to the relationship between idea and object, and there’s an argument to be made that his entire trajectory is a performance piece in itself, one about time, mortality and the ultimate futility of intellectual arguments.
—Will Heinrich, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2025
Likewise, the futility of power and control in a romantic relationship also might be apparent.
—Georgia Nicols, The Denver Post, 14 Mar. 2025
For more than six long months in 2024, the place had been home to an abundance of pain; futility that defied belief or description.
—Andrew Carter, Chicago Tribune, 27 Mar. 2025
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New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 8 Apr. 2025
Still, there’s something heroic about Kosuth’s lifelong devotion to the relationship between idea and object, and there’s an argument to be made that his entire trajectory is a performance piece in itself, one about time, mortality and the ultimate futility of intellectual arguments.
—Will Heinrich, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2025
Likewise, the futility of power and control in a romantic relationship also might be apparent.
—Georgia Nicols, The Denver Post, 14 Mar. 2025
For more than six long months in 2024, the place had been home to an abundance of pain; futility that defied belief or description.
—Andrew Carter, Chicago Tribune, 27 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for futility
Cite this Entry
“Futility.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/futility. Accessed 29 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
futility
noun
fu·til·i·ty
ˌfyu̇-ˈtil-ət-ē
plural futilities
1
: the quality or state of being futile
2
: a useless act
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