Words / B2

FYOOT-yl/ˈfjuːtaɪl/

Futile means having no chance of success: a futile attempt; it is futile to + verb. Pointless is the everyday twin; hopeless is closer to despair. It is futile to appeal after the deadline. Do not use futile for a merely boring lesson.

Meaning

Having no chance of success; pointless.

Examples

• “It is futile to appeal a clerical error after the deadline, the board wrote.”
• “A futile gesture still went on the record, which is the politics sense.”

Good to know

a futile attempt / gesture; it is futile to. Everyday: pointless. Stronger mood: hopeless. Formal complaints and editorials. Not “a bit useless”.

Near in meaning

pointless

New