1
as in unsuccessful
producing no results
the prison is so well guarded that all attempts to escape have been futile
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in silly
lacking in seriousness or maturity
the futile chatter of gossip columnists about the comings and goings of Hollywood celebrities
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of futile
The history of the treatment of madness, far from representing the slow but steady march of science, was until recently a series of false starts, futile debates about method, and pointless, even cruel, interventions.
—
Literary Hub, 28 Apr. 2026
At times, it’s seemed futile, as the Royals’ beleaguered offense and maligned bullpen let them down.
—Kansas City Star, 27 Apr. 2026
And that’s why both sides would have to return to the table, show flexibility, and accept a compromise, which is why this game of chicken is so futile.
—Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 27 Apr. 2026
That last-ditch effort proved futile.
—Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 27 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for futile
Literary Hub, 28 Apr. 2026
At times, it’s seemed futile, as the Royals’ beleaguered offense and maligned bullpen let them down.
—Kansas City Star, 27 Apr. 2026
And that’s why both sides would have to return to the table, show flexibility, and accept a compromise, which is why this game of chicken is so futile.
—Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 27 Apr. 2026
That last-ditch effort proved futile.
—Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 27 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for futile
Recent Examples of Synonyms for futile
Adjective
-
The mammal’s health deteriorated as it became repeatedly stranded in shallow waters, and unsuccessful efforts to coax it toward deeper seas were livestreamed across the globe.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Apr. 2026
-
The child was taken to Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital in Azle, where additional lifesaving efforts were unsuccessful, the sheriff's office said.—
Doug Myers,
CBS News,
30 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Not bad for a silly movie about killer worms from outer space.—
Richard Edwards,
Space.com,
1 May 2026
-
The idea seemed silly at first — who would be interested in a bean box subscription?—
Angela Osorio,
Los Angeles Times,
1 May 2026
Adjective
-
From certain side sections, the rear screen was nearly useless.—
Théoden Janes,
Charlotte Observer,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Technically impressive, yes—but scientifically and commercially useless.—
Magnus Resch,
ARTnews.com,
27 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
But the goofier parts of Over Your Dead Body offer some hope for the future.—
David Sims,
The Atlantic,
27 Apr. 2026
-
There’s a steadiness to Tung/Wonder Woman that stands out for its quiet authority in a frequently goofy landscape peppered with poisonous robes and finger-eating minions.—
Sarah Shachat,
IndieWire,
24 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Coming off an evening that included giddy meetings with Robert De Niro and Andy Serkis, and a morning spent on Good Morning America, Brammall nevertheless appears chipper without the aid of any caffeine during our sit-down.—
Savannah Walsh,
Vanity Fair,
30 Apr. 2026
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Eurodance with the bass-heavy Swedish genre EPA-dunk and 3Cha—the giddy electronic dance music from Thaiboy’s home region of Isaan in Thailand—to form a new kind of globalist hyperpop.—
Harry Thorfinn-George,
Pitchfork,
27 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Futile.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/futile. Accessed 6 May. 2026.
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