futile

C2+ Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ˈfjutəl/ UK /ˈfjuːtaɪl/ See IPA manual

Meanings

1

adj
incapable of producing any useful result; pointless

It was futile to argue with such a stubborn man.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · incapable of producing any... pointless useless vain fruitless ineffectual unavailing abortive

Opposites

useful effective fruitful productive worthwhile

Word family

Forms futilely

Derived forms futilityfutilely

Etymology

From Latin 'futilis' ('leaky, vain, worthless'), literally 'that easily pours out', from 'fundere' ('to pour').

futilis Latin fundere Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Describing Qualities

External links

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