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futileincapable of producing any useful result; pointless

Part of speech: ADJECTIVE

Definition: incapable of producing any useful result; pointless

Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈfjuːtaɪl/

Example Sentences

  • His futile attempts to impress his crush by doing 500 push-ups only resulted in him being too sore to ask her out.
  • It would be futile to try to teach my grandmother how to use TikTok.
  • The rescue mission seemed futile as the storm grew stronger.

futile

ADJECTIVE

[/ˈfjuːtaɪl/]

incapable of producing any useful result; pointless

The panicked sailor aggressively scooped the water with a tiny teaspoon, a completely futile attempt to save the sinking boat.
💡 Concept

The panicked sailor aggressively scooped the water with a tiny teaspoon, a completely futile attempt to save the sinking boat.

FUT(pour) + ILE(easily) — trying to carry water in a bucket where it easily pours out the bottom is completely futile.
🧠 Mnemonic

FUT(pour) + ILE(easily) — trying to carry water in a bucket where it easily pours out the bottom is completely futile.

Throwing a tiny butterfly net at the massive, hostile reptile was a completely futile defense.
🎵 Rhyme

Throwing a tiny butterfly net at the massive, hostile reptile was a completely futile defense.

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🎤Pronunciation

🇺🇸 US/ˈfjuːtaɪl/
🇬🇧 UK/ˈfjuːtaɪl/

🌳Etymology

Rootfutilis
Suffix--e

Origin

From Latin 'futilis' meaning 'leaky' or 'worthless,' originally referring to a sieve or vessel that cannot hold liquid, metaphorically extended to mean something that produces no useful result.

Breakdown

Latin 'futilis' (leaky, worthless) → English 'futile' (adjective meaning pointless or incapable of producing results)

🎵Rhyme

brutalneutralcrucial
brutal
neutral
crucial

🔗Collocations

futile attempt
futile effort
futile gesture
prove futile
utterly futile
futile exercise

📝Examples

😄 Fun example

His futile attempts to impress his crush by doing 500 push-ups only resulted in him being too sore to ask her out.

😄 Fun example

It would be futile to try to teach my grandmother how to use TikTok.

The rescue mission seemed futile as the storm grew stronger.

After hours of futile searching for his keys, he found them in his other jacket pocket.

📚Related Words

Synonyms

uselesspointlessvainfruitlesshopeless

Antonyms

effectivesuccessfulproductive

Related

wastemeaninglessineffectiveunsuccessful

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