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
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In his ruminations, Jesse comes back to the futility of his work when compared with her concrete helpfulness.
—Willing Davidson, New Yorker, 13 July 2025
While the song was played in the hopes the Mets would get the call overturned and set up a chance at tying or taking the lead, the Yankees were hoping to be told something good after a week of various futility with their pitching and defense.
—Larry Fleisher, Forbes.com, 7 July 2025
So on this Independence Day, the anniversary of the date that launched this great experiment, Americans should strive to abandon their sense of futility and cynicism.
—Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 4 July 2025
The Chicago White Sox lost 121 games in 2024, besting the benchmark for futility set by the 1962 Mets.
—Andy McCullough, New York Times, 21 May 2025
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Willing Davidson, New Yorker, 13 July 2025
While the song was played in the hopes the Mets would get the call overturned and set up a chance at tying or taking the lead, the Yankees were hoping to be told something good after a week of various futility with their pitching and defense.
—Larry Fleisher, Forbes.com, 7 July 2025
So on this Independence Day, the anniversary of the date that launched this great experiment, Americans should strive to abandon their sense of futility and cynicism.
—Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 4 July 2025
The Chicago White Sox lost 121 games in 2024, besting the benchmark for futility set by the 1962 Mets.
—Andy McCullough, New York Times, 21 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for futility
Cite this Entry
“Futility.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/futility. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025.
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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