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
While the song was played in the hopes the Mets would get the call overturned and set up a chance at tying or taking the lead, the Yankees were hoping to be told something good after a week of various futility with their pitching and defense.
—
Larry Fleisher, Forbes.com, 7 July 2025
So on this Independence Day, the anniversary of the date that launched this great experiment, Americans should strive to abandon their sense of futility and cynicism.
—Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 4 July 2025
The Chicago White Sox lost 121 games in 2024, besting the benchmark for futility set by the 1962 Mets.
—Andy McCullough, New York Times, 21 May 2025
The pragmatists have reason to hope that the Israeli and American bombardment will ultimately strengthen their position by having shown the futility and destructiveness of Khamenei’s antagonism.
—Arash Azizi, The Atlantic, 25 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for futility
Larry Fleisher, Forbes.com, 7 July 2025
So on this Independence Day, the anniversary of the date that launched this great experiment, Americans should strive to abandon their sense of futility and cynicism.
—Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 4 July 2025
The Chicago White Sox lost 121 games in 2024, besting the benchmark for futility set by the 1962 Mets.
—Andy McCullough, New York Times, 21 May 2025
The pragmatists have reason to hope that the Israeli and American bombardment will ultimately strengthen their position by having shown the futility and destructiveness of Khamenei’s antagonism.
—Arash Azizi, The Atlantic, 25 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for futility
Recent Examples of Synonyms for futility
Noun
-
As research highlighted the inefficacy and unintended consequences of these laws, states rolled them back or modified them, mostly by partially repealing them or reducing the severity of mandatory sentences.—
John Leverso,
The Conversation,
26 Feb. 2025
-
The solution is to test AI agents thoroughly to identify any inefficacies.—
Theo Schnitfink,
Forbes.com,
27 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Symptoms of severe protein deficiency can show up in the skin as well.—
Victoria Moorhouse,
Allure,
30 July 2025
-
For me, my deficiencies showed up in my body as fatigue.—
Conçetta Ciarlo,
Vogue,
26 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Futility.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/futility. Accessed 4 Aug. 2025.
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