Synonyms for futile
ˈfyut l, ˈfyu taɪlfu·tile

WiktionaryRate these synonyms:2.0 / 1 vote

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 AntonymsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

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 AntonymsRate these synonyms:5.0 / 1 vote

1. futile

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

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

Princeton's WordNetRate these synonyms:4.0 / 1 vote

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 SynonymesRate these synonyms:2.0 / 1 vote

1. futileadjective

   Synonyms:
   trifling, frivolous, trivial

2. futileadjective

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

Synonyms, Antonyms & Associated WordsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. futileadjective

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

PPDB, the paraphrase databaseRate these paraphrases:0.0 / 0 votes

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. Nancy Pelosi:

   With only four legislative days left until the Republican Homeland Security Shutdown, Speaker Boehner made it clear that Speaker Boehner has no plan to avoid a government shutdown, the speaker's reliance on talking points and finger-pointing was a sad reflection of the fact that the Tea Party continues to hold the gavel as Senate Democrats insist on Senate Democrats futile anti-immigrant grandstanding.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. Denis Volkov:

   People do n’t want to go and protest ; first, because it might be dangerous, and second, because they see it as a futile enterprise, what are we supposed to do ? Our opinion means diddly squat.

5. Caroline Isemann:

   We look at each patient's individual circumstances and how to remain in compliance with all current state laws to the best of our ability, even if a specific diagnosis falls under medically futile exceptions provided by( the Louisiana Department of Health), the laws addressing treatment methods are much more complex and seemingly contradictory.