Wordnet 3.0
ADVERB (1)
1.
in a futile and unproductive manner;
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Futilely \Fu"tile*ly\, adv.
In a futile manner.
[1913 Webster]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
futilely
adv 1: in a futile and unproductive manner