Definition of FUTILE (original) (raw)
1
: serving no useful purpose : completely ineffective
efforts to convince him were futile
Did you know?
Attempts to pinpoint the first use of the phrase “resistance is futile” may ultimately be futile—that is, pointless or in vain—but that hasn’t stopped folks from trying. Popular in movies and television series from Star Trek to Stargate, Veronica Mars to Napoleon Dynamite, the slogan is often uttered by an antagonist who wants to make it clear in no uncertain terms that they will be the one to prevail in the onscreen struggle. Some people point to a 1976 episode of Doctor Who in which a character called The Master says “Resistance is futile now,” while others prefer the quote without the now, holding up a 1977 episode of Space: 1999 as being the first to feature it. However, author Randall Garrett had both shows beat in his 1961 short story “The Highest Treason,” in which a character says “Not if they … can prove that resistance is futile.” Despite its clear importance to futuristic science fiction, however, the word futile has ancient roots. It comes from the Latin adjective fūtilis/futtilis, which was used to describe things that are brittle or fragile and, by extension, serve no purpose. These meanings survive in the English word futile, which denotes ineffectiveness.
Synonyms
Choose the Right Synonym for futile
resistance had proved so futile that surrender was the only choice left
vain usually implies simple failure to achieve a desired result.
a vain attempt to get the car started
fruitless comes close to vain but often suggests long and arduous effort or severe disappointment.
fruitless efforts to obtain a lasting peace
Examples of futile in a Sentence
In a digitized land of national ID cards, dropping out will be impossible, and dreaming about it will be futile. —
Walter Kirn, Atlantic, May 2002 After Redemption and disfranchisement destroyed black political influence, open challenges to white supremacy were futile and dangerous. —Adam Fairclough, Journal of American History, June 2000 In some futile bid for gentility, the management has barred employees from using the front door, so my first day I enter through the kitchen … —Barbara Ehrenreich, Harper's, January 1999 In 1845 explorer Charles Sturt led an expedition through these parts on a futile search for an inland sea. —Thomas O'Neill, National Geographic, April 1997
All our efforts proved futile. a futile and foolish gesture
Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Defending himself, Musk said it was meant merely to highlight how futile such an endeavor would be. —Christiaan Hetzner, Fortune, 8 Oct. 2024 Additionally, remaining silent or giving up after futile efforts to enforce accountability can be easy. —Simone E. Morris, Forbes, 12 Sep. 2024 Putting too much effort into trying to change someone will be futile. —Eugenia Last, The Mercury News, 26 Sep. 2024 When the franchise’s eventual plans to move to Las Vegas began to seem real, Bobbitt helped organize futile lawsuits to block the relocation. —Shomik Mukherjee, The Mercury News, 29 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for futile 
Word History
Etymology
borrowed from Middle French & Latin; Middle French, borrowed from Latin fūtilis, futtilis "brittle, fragile (of containers), serving no purpose, pointless," perhaps (if original sense was "leaky") from fū- (going back to Indo-European *ǵheu̯- "pour, shed") + -tilis "obtained by, characterized by (the action of the verb)" — more at found entry 5
First Known Use
circa 1555, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of futile was circa 1555
Dictionary Entries Near futile
Cite this Entry
“Futile.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/futile. Accessed 13 Nov. 2024.
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Last Updated: 2 Nov 2024 - Updated example sentences
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