futile — incapable 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.

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.
Got the picture? Now let's practice.
🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
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
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“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.”
“After hours of futile searching for his keys, he found them in his other jacket pocket.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
Related
Want to master 19,000+ words?
Sign up free for flashcards & quizzes.