/ ˈfjuːtaɪl; NAmE -tl/ adjective
having no purpose because there is no chance of success
SYN pointless :
a futile attempt / exercise / gesture
Their efforts to revive him were futile.
It would be futile to protest.
My appeal proved futile.
► fu·til·ity / fjuːˈtɪləti; NAmE / noun [ U ]:
a sense of futility
the futility of war
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WORD ORIGIN
mid 16th cent.: from Latin futilis leaky, futile, apparently from fundere pour.