futility
noun
fu·til·i·ty fyü-ˈti-lə-tē 
plural futilities
1
: the quality or state of being futile : uselessness
His speech focused on the futility of violence.
2
: a useless act or gesture
the futilities of debate for its own sake
W. A. White
W. A. White
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web This year’s team is poised to challenge that standard for futility. Alex Speier, BostonGlobe.com, 23 Aug. 2022 The reasons for the futility might be less apparent. Paul Daugherty, The Enquirer, 23 June 2022 There were certainly enough of those to go around in Monday’s Game 5 annihilation in Dallas, where the Jazz set NBA postseason and franchise records for 3-point futility. Eric Walden, The Salt Lake Tribune, 26 Apr. 2022 With a rookie-laden roster, manager Torey Lovullo hopes his club will benefit from the experience of losing 24 consecutive road games – a record for futility shared with the 1943 Philadelphia Athletics and 1963 New York Mets. Dan Schlossberg, Forbes, 15 Apr. 2022 Their protests -- along with the GOP's success in thwarting broad voting rights legislation in the Senate and a recent Supreme Court decision further neutering the Voting Rights Act -- might add up to Democratic futility. Stephen Collinson, CNN, 12 July 2021 Baldelli contributed to that futility Tuesday by using Brandon Waddell in the 10th inning one night after he got hit hard by the same lineup. Star Tribune, 5 May 2021 Shoulders slumped, Bogaerts took off his batting gloves on the field, a rare portrait of futility. Alex Speier, BostonGlobe.com, 14 Aug. 2022 The blowout sealed the Sparks’ second straight season without a playoff berth, a streak of futility reached only one other time in franchise history. Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 12 Aug. 2022 See More
Alex Speier, BostonGlobe.com, 23 Aug. 2022 The reasons for the futility might be less apparent. Paul Daugherty, The Enquirer, 23 June 2022 There were certainly enough of those to go around in Monday’s Game 5 annihilation in Dallas, where the Jazz set NBA postseason and franchise records for 3-point futility. Eric Walden, The Salt Lake Tribune, 26 Apr. 2022 With a rookie-laden roster, manager Torey Lovullo hopes his club will benefit from the experience of losing 24 consecutive road games – a record for futility shared with the 1943 Philadelphia Athletics and 1963 New York Mets. Dan Schlossberg, Forbes, 15 Apr. 2022 Their protests -- along with the GOP's success in thwarting broad voting rights legislation in the Senate and a recent Supreme Court decision further neutering the Voting Rights Act -- might add up to Democratic futility. Stephen Collinson, CNN, 12 July 2021 Baldelli contributed to that futility Tuesday by using Brandon Waddell in the 10th inning one night after he got hit hard by the same lineup. Star Tribune, 5 May 2021 Shoulders slumped, Bogaerts took off his batting gloves on the field, a rare portrait of futility. Alex Speier, BostonGlobe.com, 14 Aug. 2022 The blowout sealed the Sparks’ second straight season without a playoff berth, a streak of futility reached only one other time in franchise history. Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 12 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
borrowed from French and Latin; French futilité, going back to Middle French, borrowed from Latin fūtilitāt-, fūtilitās (also futtilitāt-, futtilitās) "unprofitableness, uselessness," from fūtilis, futtilis "brittle, fragile (of containers), serving no purpose, pointless" + -itāt- -itās -ity — more at futile
First Known Use
circa 1623, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing futility
Kids Definition
futility
noun
fu·til·i·ty fyu̇-ˈti-lə-tē
: the quality or state of being ineffective
She knew the futility of trying to argue with him.
futility
noun
as in uselessness
the quality or state of being useless The two engaged in a long discussion on the futility of war. He felt saddened by the apparent futility of his efforts to console her. Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- uselessness
- hopelessness
- ineffectiveness
- inefficacy
- ineffectuality
- fruitlessness
- ineffectualness
- deficiency
- pointlessness
- vanity
- unprofitableness
- meaninglessness
- unprofitability
- failure
- inadequacy
- barrenness
- emptiness
- inadequateness
- defeat
- insufficiency
- inefficaciousness
- disappointment
- abortiveness
- setback
- senselessness
- bootlessness
- unavailingness
- otioseness
- collapse
- inaneness
- letdown
- nonachievement
- nonsuccess
- cropper
- fizzle
- crash
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- usefulness
- utility
- use
- service
- benefit
- advantage
- assistance
- success
- mileage
- aid
- avail
- gain
- victory
- account
- relevance
- serviceableness
- accomplishment
- help
- serviceability
- achievement
- value
- applicability
- appropriateness
- fitness
- worth
- profit
- win