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unavailing

[ uhn-uh-vey-ling ]

/ ˌʌn əˈveɪ lɪŋ /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR unavailing ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

ineffectual; futile.

Origin of unavailing

First recorded in 1660–70; un-¹ + avail + -ing²

OTHER WORDS FROM unavailing

un·a·vail·ing·ly, adverb

Words nearby unavailing

unattractive, unattributed, unau, unauthorized, unavailable, unavailing, unavoidable, unaware, unawares, unbacked, unbalance

Example sentences from the Web for unavailing

My efforts to reach Robbins to hear his explanation were unavailing, alas.

Hollywood's Liberal Heartbreak |Lloyd Grove |January 3, 2010 |DAILY BEAST
Efforts to determine when the Massachusetts legislature last felt embarrassed were unavailing.

Teddy's Catholic Pain |Adam Clymer |August 26, 2009 |DAILY BEAST
Their words seemed dead, and every effort which Mlle de Tricotrin made to restore their life was unavailing.

Kophetua the Thirteenth |Julian Corbett
Not far away were the heights of Fredericksburg, where Burnside had led the bravest of the brave to unavailing slaughter.

The Shades of the Wilderness |Joseph A. Altsheler

He well knew that his formal interposition in behalf of the illustrious captive would be unavailing.

Washington and the American Republic, Vol. 3. |Benson J. Lossing
Every day thus wasted now will in future cause you years of unavailing regret.

The Young Lady's Mentor |A Lady
It was unavailing; he extended his arm towards them, and made another violent effort.

The Pickwick Papers |Charles Dickens

British Dictionary definitions for unavailing

unavailing

/ (ˌʌnəˈveɪlɪŋ) /

adjective

useless or futile

Derived forms of unavailing

unavailingly, adverb