futilely

Examples

• All

• Doubts crowded in on every side, and she wondered briefly, futilely, whether her decision to come to Morrowind had been wrong.

  Fiction book (1992)

• Stanley grinds the ignition key again and again, trying futilely to restart the engine.

  Fiction book (1994)

• In everything, Tom thought as he futilely tried to clean out his grit-caked eyes and ears.

  Fiction book (1992)

• Roberta tries futilely to get the beginners to pay attention to her.

  Fiction book (1999)

• Shepard's grip is like a vise; Frank futilely tries to pry Shepard's fingers open.

  Fiction book (2000)

• Stanley grinds the ignition key again and again, trying futilely to restart the engine.

• At twenty-six, he has everything so many people spend their entire lives futilely hoping for.

• Exiting the main security aperture, I found the duty officer futilely banging his fists on the terminal panel.

Synonyms

I

in vain

vsfutilely

108 3.7

Without success despite trying to do something

stresses absence of useful outcome rather than total failure in effort

U

unsuccessfully

vsfutilely

31 3.0

In a way that does not get the result you wanted

highlights not producing useful results instead of just lacking success

V

vainly

vsfutilely

5 5.5

In a way that does not succeed

focuses on lacking useful result rather than simply failing to affect a goal

U

uselessly

vsfutilely

4 3.5

In a way that does not help or make any difference

focuses on lack of useful result rather than mere failure

P

pointlessly

vsfutilely

4 4.3

In a way that has no purpose or use

emphasizes lack of purpose rather than specifically lacking useful result

I

ineffectively

vsfutilely

3 4.0

In a way that does not get the result you want

stresses absence of useful outcome rather than simple lack of success

F

fruitlessly

vsfutilely

2 6.0

In a way that does not succeed

emphasizes not producing useful results rather than intention or purpose

I

ineffectually

vsfutilely

1 6.3

In a way that does not get the result you want

highlights lack of useful result rather than just weak effect

U

unproductively

vsfutilely

1 6.7

In a way that fails to get useful results

draws attention to no useful result rather than low efficiency

A

abortively

vsfutilely

7.9

In a way that fails to reach the goal

emphasizes failure to yield any useful result rather than only missing aims

U

unavailingly

vsfutilely

8.0

Without success when someone tries to do something

points to absence of useful result rather than mere failure to meet aims

Antonyms

E

effectively

261 3.6

In a way that gets the result you want

U

usefully

5 1.1

In a way that helps reach a goal

How Effective

ineffectively

3 4.0

futilely

3 7.4

pointlessly

4 4.3

uselessly

4 3.5

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology