futile

Adjective
Synonyms: ineffectualotioseunavailingbootlessfruitlesssleevelessvain

WordNet 3.0

Adjective (2)

  1. producing no result or effect“a futile effort”“the therapy was ineffectual”“an otiose undertaking”“an unavailing attempt”Synonyms: ineffectualotioseunavailing
  2. unproductive of success“a fruitless search”“futile years after her artistic peak”“a sleeveless errand”“a vain attempt”Synonyms: bootlessfruitlesssleevelessvain
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Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Futile \Fu"tile\ (?; 277), a. [L. futilis that easily pours out, that easily lets loose, vain, worthless, from the root of fundere to pour out: cf. F. futile. See Fuse, v. t.]

1.Talkative; loquacious; tattling. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]

Talkers and futile persons.— Bacon.[1913 Webster]

2.Of no importance; having no useful purpose; useless; vain; worthless; pointless. "Futile theories." --I. Taylor. [1913 Webster]

His reasoning . . . was singularly futile.— Macaulay.[1913 Webster]
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