futile

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

He observes that, from an engineering perspective, it might be futile to try making machines that are fully human—after all, our various abilities have been refined through a lengthy, data-rich evolution.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 29, 2026

For now, mining is largely done in ways reminiscent of the United States' gold rush in the 19th century, when so many ended up exhausted in a futile hunt for treasure.

From Barron's • Feb. 25, 2026

So you’re not saying that that is a pointless exercise, that the pushback is futile because none of this has meaning.

From Slate • Feb. 3, 2026

Potts was asked to bowl one more futile spell of bouncers, with the maddening Smith playing tennis-style smashes and signalling a wide to the umpires.

From BBC • Jan. 6, 2026

I turned to the man, who had bent down again to his futile digging.

From "Rebecca" by Daphne du Maurier