Futile is a four-letter word with an unusual spelling pattern. The 'u' in the first syllable makes a long 'yoo' sound, as in 'few'. Meanwhile, the 'i' in the second syllable creates a short 'ih' sound, as in 'bit'. Finally, the 'le' at the end of the word is pronounced as a single syllable, with a 'uhl' sound. This word means pointless or useless, and is often used to express something that is without purpose or lacking in effectiveness.
Futile is an adjective that refers to something that is incapable of producing any meaningful or desired result. It is used to describe actions, efforts, or endeavors that are essentially pointless, as they have no chance of success.
This word carries a sense of disappointment and frustration, emphasizing the futility of the effort being made. For instance, one's attempts to change the mind of someone who is strongly opposed to an idea can be described as futile, as they are unlikely to yield any positive outcome. Similarly, engaging in a futile argument indicates that the discussion is bound to be unproductive and lead nowhere.
The concept of futility often implies a waste of time, energy, or resources. It suggests a lack of purpose or effectiveness, highlighting the senselessness of continuing with the effort. One may feel futile when faced with overwhelming odds or when dealing with a situation that seems impossible to resolve.
Furthermore, futile can also describe something that lacks importance or significance. As such, activities that are considered trivial, inconsequential, or dispensable can be labeled as futile.
In summary, futile describes actions or endeavors that are pointless, worthless, and devoid of any potential for success or meaningful outcomes. It conveys a sense of disappointment and frustration, suggesting a waste of time, energy, or resources.
Trifling; of no weight or importance; of no effect.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "futile" can be traced back to the Latin word "futilis", which means "pouring out easily" or "vain". It originates from the verb "fundere", meaning "to pour". In Latin, "futilis" was used to describe something that is pointless, valueless, or empty. With time, the term "futile" found its way into Old French as "futile" with the same meaning. Eventually, it was adopted into Middle English and has remained in use until today with the same sense of something being purposeless or ineffective.