Synonyms for futile
ˈfyut l, ˈfyu taɪlfu·tile

Wiktionary(2.00 / 1 vote)Rate these synonyms:

1. futileadjective

   Synonyms:
   ineffectual, fruitless, vain, unavailing, idle

   Antonyms:
   effective, effectual

2. futileadjective

   Incapable of producing results; useless; not successful; not worth attempting.

   Synonyms:
   idle, unavailing, vain, fruitless, ineffectual

   Antonyms:
   effective, effectual

English Synonyms and Antonyms(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate these synonyms:

1. futile

   Vain (Latin vanus, empty) keeps the etymological idea through all changes of meaning; a vain endeavor is empty of result, or of adequate power to produce a result, a vain pretension is empty or destitute of support, a vain person has a conceit that is empty or destitute of adequate cause or reason. That which is bootless, fruitless, or profitless fails to accomplish any valuable result; that which is abortive, ineffectual, or unavailing fails to accomplish a result that it was, or was supposed to be, adapted to accomplish. That which is useless, futile, or vain is inherently incapable of accomplishing a specified result. Useless, in the widest sense, signifies not of use for any valuable purpose, and is thus closely similar to valueless and worthless. Fruitless is more final than ineffectual, as applying to the sum or harvest of endeavor. That which is useless lacks actual fitness for a purpose; that which is vain lacks imaginable fitness. Compare VACANT; OSTENTATION; PRIDE.

   Compare synonyms for UTILITY.

   Synonyms:
   abortive, baseless, bootless, deceitful, delusive, empty, fruitless, idle, inconstant, ineffectual, nugatory, null, profitless, shadowy, trifling, trivial, unavailing, unimportant, unprofitable, unreal, unsatisfying, unserviceable, unsubstantial, useless, vain, vapid, visionary, worthless

   Antonyms:
   adequate, advantageous, beneficial, competent, effective, efficient, expedient, potent, powerful, profitable, real, serviceable, solid, sound, substantial, sufficient, useful, valid, valuable, worthy

Complete Dictionary of Synonyms and Antonyms(5.00 / 1 vote)Rate these synonyms:

1. futile

   Synonyms:
   weak, ineffective, useless, nugatory, unavailing, vain, trifling

   Antonyms:
   powerful, effective, cogent, useful, solid, substantial

Princeton's WordNet(4.00 / 1 vote)Rate these synonyms:

1. futile, ineffectual, otiose, unavailingadjective

   producing no result or effect

   "a futile effort"; "the therapy was ineffectual"; "an otiose undertaking"; "an unavailing attempt"

   Synonyms:
   senseless, ineffectual, bootless, work-shy, otiose, vain, purposeless, slothful, superfluous, unavailing, sleeveless, indolent, uneffective, faineant, pointless, wasted, unable, lazy, ineffective, fruitless

   Antonyms:
   useful, utile, productive

2. bootless, fruitless, futile, sleeveless, vainadjective

   unproductive of success

   "a fruitless search"; "futile years after her artistic peak"; "a sleeveless errand"; "a vain attempt"

   Synonyms:
   unavailing, otiose, self-conceited, fruitless, egotistic, vain, conceited, swollen-headed, swollen, bootless, ineffectual, egotistical, sleeveless

   Antonyms:
   useful, utile, productive

Dictionary of English Synonymes(2.00 / 1 vote)Rate these synonyms:

1. futileadjective

   Synonyms:
   trifling, frivolous, trivial

2. futileadjective

   Synonyms:
   worthless, valueless, profitless, fruitless, bootless, vain, idle, unprofitable

Synonyms, Antonyms & Associated Words(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate these synonyms:

1. futileadjective

   Synonyms:
   vain, bootless, ineffectual, unavailing, abortive, useless

PPDB, the paraphrase database(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate these paraphrases:

1. List of paraphrases for "futile":

   useless, pointless, vain, fruitless, frivolous, sterile, unnecessary, trivial, meaningless, unhelpful, worthless, unsuccessful, senseless, needless, unproductive

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How to use futile in a sentence?

1. Darlene Brooks:

   Even with Attorney General( Eric) Holder, I was excited for him, but it was like it stopped there, if Justice Department is riddled with career people who don't embrace diversity and only do a paper exercise, then Justice Department's futile and there's no change.

2. Quadrilateral Coordination Group:

   We reject all such rumors and unequivocally state that the leader of Islamic Emirate has not authorized anyone to participate in this meeting, (Islamic Emirate) once again reiterates that unless the occupation of Afghanistan is ended, black lists eliminated and innocent prisoners freed, such futile misleading negotiations will not bear any results.

3. Clarence Darrow:

   We know life is futile. A man who considers that his life is of very wonderful importance is awfully close to a padded cell.

4. Anuj Somany:

   The clients are loyal to their benefits and not to any brand or sales person, so it is futile on part of an organisation to think that it can replicate its competitors’ business growth by just recruiting or poaching their star performer unless and until it offers him the same working policy, strategy, culture and environment.

5. RAS CARDO REGGAE:

   its futile looking for -motives- when we already know the reasons as to why certain things happen. An exercise in futility will not a safe solution make. Most things are casually related. If a=b, and b=c, then a=c.