futility
/fjuːˈtɪləti/ (bre, ipa) · /fjuːˈtɪləti/ (ame, ipa) · /fyü-ˈti-lə-tē/ (ame, mw)
futility — noun
1. the condition of being useless because an action cannot bring the result you wan
the condition of being useless because an action cannot bring the result you want.
After three hours at the broken machine, Omar finally saw the futility of waiting.
the futility of + -ing
Ritu laughed at the futility of sweeping leaves across the windy playground.
The farmers spoke about the futility of planting rice before the river returned.
Bao felt the futility of arguing once the judge had signed the order.
There was obvious futility in chasing the bus after it turned the corner.
- pointlessness
a broader everyday noun for something with no value or purpose
- uselessness
focuses more generally on not being helpful or effective
- hopelessness
focuses on the feeling that success is impossible, not the action itself
- usefulness
focuses on something having a practical effect
- effectiveness
focuses on producing the intended result
文法句型
the futility of + noun/-ing
futility in + noun/-ing
用法筆記
Usually appears in phrases like the futility of ... or futility in .... It is common when a speaker judges that more effort cannot change the outcome.