Word: futile (adjective)

Associations

"Futile" means something that has no useful result or purpose. When you say an action is futile, you mean it is useless or will not succeed.

• Trying to fix a broken glass with tape is often futile. The glass will still break.
• Arguing with someone who refuses to listen can be futile.
• Studying very late at night without sleep might be futile because you won’t remember well.

A well-known synonym is "useless." The difference is that "futile" often implies effort or attempt that fails, while "useless" means something has no use at all.

Substitution

You can replace "futile" with:

• useless (less focus on effort, more on value)
• pointless (focus on lack of purpose)
• hopeless (focus on no chance of success)

Example: "It is futile to try to change his mind."
You can say: "It is pointless to try to change his mind."

Deconstruction

The word "futile" comes from Latin "futilis," meaning "leaky" or "pouring out easily," which implied something that cannot hold water or is not effective. The root relates to failure or lack of success. There is no prefix or suffix here, just the base adjective.

Inquiry

• Can you think of a time when you tried something but it felt futile?
• How does knowing something is futile change how you act?
• Are there situations where trying something futile might still be important? Why?