Futile describes an effortThe energy or work you put into doing something. or action that produces no useful resultSomething that happens because of an action or event. or has little chance of succeeding. It is often used for attemptsActions taken to try to accomplish something. to achieve something when success seems impossibleUnable to happen or be achieved..

Futile Meaning

Futile is an adjective meaning ineffective or pointless because an action cannot achieve its intended result.

Definition

Producing no useful result; unlikely to succeed.

Futile Synonyms

Similar Meaning

• Fruitless — producing no successful or useful result.
• Vain — unsuccessful in achieving an intended purpose, as in “a vain attempt.”
• Unavailing — failing to help or produce the desired effect.
• Ineffectual — unable to produce the intended result.

Less Common Alternatives

• Bootless — an archaic or literary word meaning useless or unsuccessful.
• Otiose — a formal word that can mean serving no useful purpose; it may also describe something unnecessary.

Futile in a Sentence

• We made a futile attempt to start the car with a dead battery.
• It seemed futile to argue with someone who refused to listen.
• All their efforts to save the damaged painting proved futile.

Common Mistakes

• Futile does not simply mean difficult. A difficult task may still succeed; a futile effort offers little or no prospect of achieving its goal.
• Futile and meaningless are not always interchangeable. Futile focuses on a lack of results, while meaningless focuses on a lack of meaning or significance.
• Use futile with efforts and actions. Common combinations include “a futile attempt,” “a futile effort,” and “futile resistance.”

Frequently Asked Questions

What does futile mean?

Futile means unable or unlikely to produce a useful result. It describes an action or effort that cannot achieve its intended purpose.

Is futile a negative word?

Yes. Futile usually expresses a negative judgment about the usefulness or likely success of an action.

What is a simple synonym for futile?

Pointless is a simple alternative in many contexts. Fruitless is especially close when describing an effort or attempt that produces no result.