adj.
- Having no useful result.
- Trifling and frivolous; idle: the futile years after her artistic peak.
[Latin fūtilis.]
futilely fu'tile·ly adv.futileness fu'tile·ness n.
SYNONYMS futile, barren, bootless, fruitless, unavailing, useless, vain. These adjectives mean producing no result or effect: a futile effort; a barren search; bootless entreaties; fruitless labors; an unavailing attempt; a useless discussion; vain regrets.
ANTONYM useful
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
