as in uselessness
the quality or state of being useless
The two engaged in a long discussion on the futility of war. He felt saddened by the apparent futility of his efforts to console her.
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Recent Examples of futility
And the Hornets, after a half-season of futility, are currently doing it.
—
Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 21 Jan. 2025
Still, as No. 7 seed Notre Dame (12-1) prepares to face No. 2 seed Georgia (11-2) on Wednesday night in a College Football Playoff quarterfinal in New Orleans, the Fighting Irish can’t escape its three decades long futility in major postseason games.
—Tim Casey, Forbes, 31 Dec. 2024
After months of diplomatic futility, Biden was shrewd to allow Trump and Witkoff to serve as the front men for the talks.
—Franklin Foer, The Atlantic, 15 Jan. 2025
Notwithstanding stretches of defensive dominance, Harbaugh’s Bolts echoed the Chargers’ futility of many other postseason defeats.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for futility 
Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 21 Jan. 2025
Still, as No. 7 seed Notre Dame (12-1) prepares to face No. 2 seed Georgia (11-2) on Wednesday night in a College Football Playoff quarterfinal in New Orleans, the Fighting Irish can’t escape its three decades long futility in major postseason games.
—Tim Casey, Forbes, 31 Dec. 2024
After months of diplomatic futility, Biden was shrewd to allow Trump and Witkoff to serve as the front men for the talks.
—Franklin Foer, The Atlantic, 15 Jan. 2025
Notwithstanding stretches of defensive dominance, Harbaugh’s Bolts echoed the Chargers’ futility of many other postseason defeats.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for futility
Thesaurus Entries Near futility
Cite this Entry
“Futility.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/futility. Accessed 2 Feb. 2025.
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