1
as in unsuccessful
producing no results
the prison is so well guarded that all attempts to escape have been futile
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in silly
lacking in seriousness or maturity
the futile chatter of gossip columnists about the comings and goings of Hollywood celebrities
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of futile
However, these attempts are futile, and such baseless rumors will ultimately be consigned to the dustbin of history.
—
Ron Estes, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Mar. 2025
Impeachment is seen as a largely futile effort, given the near-zero chance that at least 14 Senate Democrats would join Republicans in convicting and removing any of the judges.
—Sarah Fortinsky, The Hill, 25 Mar. 2025
But there’s also a sense that the protests of Trump’s first term were ultimately futile.
—Kevin A. Young, The Conversation, 18 Mar. 2025
More importantly, the 1965-85 period taught us that attempts at Keynesian micromanagement are not only futile, but counterproductive.
—Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 16 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for futile
Ron Estes, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Mar. 2025
Impeachment is seen as a largely futile effort, given the near-zero chance that at least 14 Senate Democrats would join Republicans in convicting and removing any of the judges.
—Sarah Fortinsky, The Hill, 25 Mar. 2025
But there’s also a sense that the protests of Trump’s first term were ultimately futile.
—Kevin A. Young, The Conversation, 18 Mar. 2025
More importantly, the 1965-85 period taught us that attempts at Keynesian micromanagement are not only futile, but counterproductive.
—Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 16 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for futile
Recent Examples of Synonyms for futile
Adjective
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But the Supreme Court denied the court order and requests to President Donald Trump from family, supporters and her attorney were unsuccessful.—
Nicole Acosta,
People.com,
19 Apr. 2025
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In 1945, an attempt was made to identify the unknown remains, but the effort was unsuccessful, the DPAA said.—
Kerry Breen,
CBS News,
18 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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This strategy worked for him for about 10 years—and then began to bore him silly.—
Art Spiegelman,
The Atlantic,
9 Apr. 2025
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Believing in any conspiracy theory, even one that seems as inoffensive or silly as the flat Earth theory, can set a person up to fall into larger conspiracy theories, Dashtgard says, like the idea that feminism is a global conspiracy meant to drag men down.—
Fortesa Latifi,
Rolling Stone,
4 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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For most of us, our inbox goals are the same: minimize useless spam, file away messages that don’t require your attention right away, and bring urgent items to the forefront.—
Aytekin Tank,
Forbes.com,
8 Apr. 2025
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His devastating splitter would be useless without first establishing everything else in the strike zone.—
Fabian Ardaya,
New York Times,
6 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Pearl Breed: Pit terrier mix Age: 2 years old Pearl is a cuddly, goofy, playful pup looking for her forever home.—
Trish Stinger,
Kansas City Star,
9 Apr. 2025
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Betty’s world is introduced with real decor, like a big grey bed and an amusingly goofy invention of Grampy’s, but the handmade quality falls by the wayside as most of the rest of David Rockwell’s sets are conjured via that old menace, the big flat LED screen.—
Jackson McHenry,
Vulture,
8 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The Front Range faithful who two summers ago lined the streets of downtown Denver, giddy to the last.—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
12 Apr. 2025
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By turns giddy, anxious, and despairing, these poems have endeared him to generations of ordinary readers who find in the tempestuous and ultimately brokenhearted poet a strikingly modern and profoundly accessible figure.—
Daniel Mendelsohn,
New Yorker,
31 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Futile.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/futile. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.
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