FUTILE: Synonyms and Related Words. What is Another Word for FUTILE?

Need another word that means the same as “futile”? Find 9 synonyms and 30 related words for “futile” in this overview.

The synonyms of “Futile” are: bootless, fruitless, sleeveless, vain, ineffectual, meaningless, otiose, unavailing, pointless

Futile as an Adjective

Definitions of "Futile" as an adjective

According to the Oxford Dictionary of English, “futile” as an adjective can have the following definitions:

• Incapable of producing any useful result; pointless.
• Unproductive of success.
• Producing no result or effect.

Synonyms of "Futile" as an adjective (9 Words)

bootless	Unproductive of success. Remonstrating with him seems ever to have been a bootless task.
fruitless	Failing to achieve the desired results; unproductive or useless. A fruitless search.
ineffectual	Not producing an intended effect. The therapy was ineffectual.
meaningless	Producing no result or effect. Rules are meaningless to a child if they do not have a rationale.
otiose	Disinclined to work or exertion. There were occasions when I felt my efforts were rather otiose.
pointless	Having little or no sense, use, or purpose. A pointless remark.
sleeveless	Unproductive of success. A sleeveless errand.
unavailing	Achieving little or nothing; ineffective. Their efforts were unavailing.
vain	Unproductive of success. A vain attempt to tidy up the room.

Usage Examples of "Futile" as an adjective

• A futile effort.
• Futile years after her artistic peak.
• It is futile to allocate blame for this.
• A futile attempt to keep fans from mounting the stage.

Associations of "Futile" (30 Words)

abortive	(of an organ or organism) rudimentary; arrested in development. Abortive techniques.
barren	A barren tract or tracts of land. The barren fig tree.
bootless	(of a task or undertaking) ineffectual; useless. Remonstrating with him seems ever to have been a bootless task.
counterproductive	Having the opposite of the desired effect. Child experts fear the Executive s plans may prove counterproductive.
fruitless	(of a tree or plant) not producing fruit. A banana leaf from a fruitless palm.
incapable	Unable to do or achieve (something. Incapable of carrying a tune.
incompetence	Inability to do something successfully; ineptitude. Allegations of professional incompetence.
incompetent	An incompetent person. A forgetful and utterly incompetent assistant.
ineffective	Lacking in power or forcefulness. An ineffective teacher.
ineffectual	Lacking in power or forcefulness. An ineffectual ruler.
inept	Revealing lack of perceptiveness or judgment or finesse. The referee s inept handling of the match.
infertile	Incapable of reproducing. Barren and infertile soils.
infertility	Inability to conceive children or young. A couple undergoing infertility treatment.
interbreed	(of an animal) inbreed. Their energy and physique had been sapped by interbreeding.
invalid	A person made weak or disabled by illness or injury. She spent the rest of her life as an invalid.
nugatory	Useless or futile. The teacher shortages will render nugatory the hopes of implementing the new curriculum.
powerless	Lacking power. Troops were powerless to stop last night s shooting.
pregnant	Carrying developing offspring within the body or being about to produce new life. A silence pregnant with suspense.
stark	Physically strong or powerful. He came running back in stark terror.
sterile	(of a plant) not able to produce fruit or seeds. He found the fraternity s teachings sterile.
sterility	The quality or condition of being sterile. The disease can cause sterility in males.
stillborn	(of newborn infant) showing no signs of life at birth; not liveborn. The proposed wealth tax was stillborn.
trivia	Something of small importance. We fill our days with meaningless trivia.
unable	(usually followed by `to’) not having the necessary means or skill or know-how. The sun was unable to melt enough snow.
unavailing	Achieving little or nothing; ineffective. Their efforts were unavailing.
unfruitful	Not fruitful; not conducive to abundant production. Single trees are often unfruitful and mixed planting is desirable.
unproductive	Not producing desired results. Elimination of high cost or unproductive industries.
useless	Having no ability or skill in a specified activity or area. She is useless in an emergency.
vain	Producing no result; useless. A vain attempt.
wasteful	Laying waste. When wasteful war shall statues overturn.