futile C2+ Topic:Cause, Change & Process 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... pointlessuselessvainfruitlessineffectualunavailingabortive ↔ Opposites usefuleffectivefruitfulproductiveworthwhile Word family Forms futilely Derived forms futilityfutilely Etymology AI details From Latin 'futilis' ('leaky, vain, worthless'), literally 'that easily pours out', from 'fundere' ('to pour'). futilis Latin fundere Latin View etymology graph -> Topics Cause, Change & Process External links Cambridge Dictionary Wiktionary Google Images # futile **Type:** Word **Level:** C2+ **Part of speech:** adj **IPA (US):** /ˈfjutəl/ **IPA (UK):** /ˈfjuːtaɪl/ ## Meanings 1. incapable of producing any useful result; pointless ## Examples - It was futile to argue with such a stubborn man. ## Synonyms - pointless - useless - vain - fruitless - ineffectual - unavailing - abortive ## Antonyms - useful - effective - fruitful - productive - worthwhile ## Derived Forms - futility - futilely ## Roots and Affixes - Root: futilis - Root: fundere ## Etymology From Latin 'futilis' ('leaky, vain, worthless'), literally 'that easily pours out', from 'fundere' ('to pour'). ## AI Etymology Futile is from Latin 'futilis' ('leaky, vain, worthless'), literally 'that easily pours out', from 'fundere' ('to pour'). In present-day use, it means incapable of producing any useful result; pointless. Derived formations include futility and futilely. ## Topics - Cause, Change & Process markdown