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HOW TO PRONOUNCE

futile

/ˈfju.taɪl/

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American Pronunciation Guide · 0:33
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What does futile mean?

adjective

  1. Incapable of producing results, useless; doomed not to be successful; not worth attempting.
  2. Insignificant; frivolous.

Definitions regrouped for readability · CC BY-SA 4.0

IPA pronunciation

/ˈfju.taɪl/

Wiktionary contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0

Other dictionary pronunciations

/ˈfju.təl/
Wiktionary contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0

Pronunciation varies by speaker and region. About these dictionary pronunciations.

In the pages of books

See this word in context.

The names are mere futile labels with which an historian who goes to the bottom of things need scarcely concern himself.
Gustave Le BonThe crowd : $b A study of the popular mindProject Gutenberg ebook #445
In despair I tried to force the thing, but the cold, unyielding stone might well have laughed at my futile, puny endeavors.
Edgar Rice BurroughsThe warlord of MarsProject Gutenberg ebook #68
More book examples (3)
But after three days of futile effort he gave up the attempt, and turned his attention to more practical means of defence.
H. B. (Henry Brodribb) IrvingA Book of Remarkable CriminalsProject Gutenberg ebook #446
He will go round, for it is futile to give up very many species, and stop at an arbitrary line at others.
Charles DarwinLife and Letters of Charles Darwin — Volume 1Project Gutenberg ebook #2087
I know this--because I spent almost twenty years of my life in a well-nigh futile search for the very knowledge herein revealed.
Benjamin Nathaniel BogueStammering, its cause and cureProject Gutenberg ebook #4256