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futile

10 antonyms and opposites of futile, grouped by meaning.

Adjective — Producing no useful result; pointless or doomed to fail.

Antonyms

How to use futile

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

a futile attempt futile effort prove futile

Etymology

From Middle French futile, from Latin fūtilis, "leaky, worthless."

Full origin of futile →

Frequently asked questions

What does “futile” mean?

The word “futile” means producing no useful result; pointless or doomed to fail. In plain terms, doomed not to work — trying anyway won't change the outcome.

How do you pronounce “futile”?

“Futile” is pronounced FYOO-tyl (/ˈfju.taɪl/ in IPA).

How do you use “futile” in a sentence?

Here is “futile” used in a sentence: “It was futile to argue with him once he'd made up his mind.”

What is another word for “futile”?

Words with a similar meaning to “futile” include useless, bootless, barren, fruitless, gainless and idle.

What is the opposite of “futile”?

The opposite of “futile” — its antonyms — are effectual, effective, fruitful, worthwhile and gainful.

What part of speech is “futile”?

“Futile” is an adjective.

Where does the word “futile” come from?

The word “futile” comes from Latin. From Middle French futile, from Latin fūtilis, "leaky, worthless.".

Is “futile” a common word?

“Futile” is an uncommon word in modern English.

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Synonyms and antonyms from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA.