futile

[ fyoot-l, fyoo-tahyl ]
/ ˈfyut l, ˈfyu taɪl /

adjective

incapable of producing any result; ineffective; useless; not successful: Attempting to force-feed the sick horse was futile.
trifling; frivolous; unimportant.

Origin of futile

1545–55; < Latin fūtilis, futtilis easily broken, vain, worthless, equivalent to fūt- (akin to fundere to pour, melt) + -ilis -ile

OTHER WORDS FROM futile

fu·tile·ly, adverb fu·tile·ness, noun non·fu·tile, adjective un·fu·tile, adjective

Example sentences from the Web for futilely

British Dictionary definitions for futilely

futile
/ (ˈfjuːtaɪl) /

adjective

having no effective result; unsuccessful
pointless; unimportant; trifling
inane or foolish don't be so futile!

Derived forms of futile

futilely, adverb futileness, noun

Word Origin for futile

C16: from Latin futtilis pouring out easily, worthless, from fundere to pour out