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.
Trying to find the cause is an exercise in futility.
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
Recent Examples on the Web
That came after a 2-1 loss to Belgium in 2014 and is part of a long run of futility against European teams.
—
ABC News,
30 June 2026
But there is an air of futility to the scene, like the coaches are shepherding square pegs into round holes.
—
Rob Picheta,
CNN Money,
27 June 2026
The Los Angeles Angels have fired general manager Perry Minasian after five-plus seasons of futility, the club announced Friday evening.
—
Sam Blum,
New York Times,
27 June 2026
The Wire is a show about futility, but of all the useless deaths to come in later seasons, none sting more than Wallace.
—
Ew Staff,
Entertainment Weekly,
25 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for futility
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ABC News,
30 June 2026
But there is an air of futility to the scene, like the coaches are shepherding square pegs into round holes.
—
Rob Picheta,
CNN Money,
27 June 2026
The Los Angeles Angels have fired general manager Perry Minasian after five-plus seasons of futility, the club announced Friday evening.
—
Sam Blum,
New York Times,
27 June 2026
The Wire is a show about futility, but of all the useless deaths to come in later seasons, none sting more than Wallace.
—
Ew Staff,
Entertainment Weekly,
25 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for futility
Cite this Entry
“Futility.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/futility. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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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