futility
noun
fu·til·i·ty
fyü-ˈti-lə-tē 
plural futilities
1
: the quality or state of being futile : uselessness
His speech focused on the futility of violence.
2
: a useless act or gesture
the futilities of debate for its own sake—
W. A. White
W. A. WhiteExamples of futility in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
McDermott already owns as many playoff wins as Schottenheimer in a third of the time and has a long way to go to match Schottenheimer’s lifetime of Lombardi Trophy futility.
—Tim Graham, The Athletic, 29 Aug. 2024
But the futility of the current situation fuels Barr and those holding the line to support her cause.
—Major Garrett, CBS News, 15 Oct. 2024
The bottom line: After Johnson's 10 days of futility, look for the Senate's patience to run out fast.
—Axios, 19 Sep. 2024
Election analyst Nate Silver, speaking on Saturday, took both sides’ ability to see victory in the early voting patterns as a sign of the futility of drawing any significant conclusions.
—Brady Knox, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 1 Nov. 2024
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Tim Graham, The Athletic, 29 Aug. 2024
But the futility of the current situation fuels Barr and those holding the line to support her cause.
—Major Garrett, CBS News, 15 Oct. 2024
The bottom line: After Johnson's 10 days of futility, look for the Senate's patience to run out fast.
—Axios, 19 Sep. 2024
Election analyst Nate Silver, speaking on Saturday, took both sides’ ability to see victory in the early voting patterns as a sign of the futility of drawing any significant conclusions.
—Brady Knox, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 1 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for futility
Dictionary Entries Near futility
Cite this Entry
“Futility.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/futility. Accessed 29 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
futility
noun
fu·til·i·ty
ˌfyu̇-ˈtil-ət-ē
plural futilities
1
: the quality or state of being futile
2
: a useless act
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