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
SYNONYMS FOR futile
1 See
useless.
OTHER WORDS FROM futile
fu·tile·ly, adverb fu·tile·ness, noun non·fu·tile, adjective un·fu·tile, adjectiveWords nearby futile
fusuma,
fut.,
futabatei,
futcher's line,
futhark,
futile,
futilitarian,
futility,
futon,
futsal,
futtock
British Dictionary definitions for futileness
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, nounWord Origin for futile
C16: from Latin
futtilis pouring out easily, worthless, from
fundere to pour out