futility Hear it!

futility Definition

fu·til·ity (fyo̵̅o̅ til′ə tē)

noun pl. -·ties

  1. the quality of being futile
  2. a futile act, thing, etc.

futility Synonyms

futility

n.

uselessness, ineffectiveness, fruitlessness, falseness, hollowness, triviality, frivolity, idleness, vanity, emptiness, hopelessness, worthlessness, labor in vain, lost trouble, unprofitableness, purposelessness, pointlessness, meaninglessness, insubstantiality, vainness, bootlessness, falsity, illusion, folly, want of substance, unimportance, carrying water in a sieve, wild-goose chase, sowing the sand, labor of Sisyphus, running around in circles, beating the air, spinning one's wheels, carrying coals to Newcastle.

Antonyms importance*, fruitfulness, significance.

futility Usage Examples

Preposition: of

  • war: The message that the truth about the futility of the war is best not uttered is hard to miss.
  • attempt: Russ was convinced of the futility of such attempts.
  • life: The whole futility of life came crashing in on me.
  • exercise: This single statement reveals the futility of the whole exercise.
  • situation: The way it went in a circle was excellent at conveying the futility of the situation and the narrator's frustration.
  • conflict: He recorded the horror and futility of the bloody conflict in the former Yugoslavia, giving him a sharp new perspective.

Converse of object

  • realize: The opponent, realizing the futility of his actions, will feel aiki.
  • realize: The humble realize the futility of trying to redeem themselves.
  • expose: During the 1960s I. F. Stone exposed the futility of the Vietnam War in his weekly journal.
  • recognize: I feel the anger rising up inside, but recognize the futility of it.
  • demonstrate: Most of the world these days is demonstrating the futility of trying to ban drugs.
  • emphasize: The psalmist is emphasizing the futility of trusting in mortal men.

Adjective modifier

  • utter: We must now all accept the utter futility of trying to shut our borders to problems abroad.
  • ultimate: We must embrace the struggle, willingly take on the task of Sisyphus, knowing its ultimate futility, but undertaking it nonetheless.
  • sheer: It could of course also demonstrate the sheer futility of using animals in such experimentation.
  • apparent: The sheer weight of apparent futility kills so many sparks of rebellion.
  • own: Consciousness of my own futility added lead to my feet.
  • tragic: The Titanic disaster, occurring at the dawn of the 20th Century, confirms the tragic futility of Mankind.

Noun used with modifier

  • quot: Beam axle suspension has taken advice quot sport futility.
  • sport: Beam axle suspension has taken advice quot sport futility.