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Word a Day

futile

adjective · /ˈfjutəl/ · Level 3 · Advanced

What does futile mean?

futile (adjective): incapable of producing results, useless; doomed not to be successful; not worth attempting.

Definition: Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.

How do you use futile in a sentence?

How do you pronounce futile?

/ˈfjutəl/ (IPA, American English). The app reads every word aloud.

Where does futile come from?

Borrowed from Middle French futile, from Latin fūtilis.

Etymology: Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Words related to futile

From Princeton WordNet 3.1.

Test yourself: do you know “futile”?

Tap an answer to check it. The same questions the app asks.

What does “futile” mean?

possessing physical strength and weight; rugged and powerful; powerfully or heavily built

Not quite: that's what hefty means.

incapable of producing results, useless; doomed not to be successful; not worth attempting

Right! That's what “futile” means.

having supreme, ultimate power; having fully independent power in international relations

Not quite: that's what sovereign means.

expressive of sympathetic pleasure or joy on account of someone's success or good fortune

Not quite: that's what congratulatory means.

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