futile

• The project to bomb the grass out of existence, dormant for some weeks, could no longer be denied Even its most ardent advocates, however, now conceded reluctantly that ordinary explosives would be futile--more than futile, an assistance to the growth by scattering the propagating fragments. —  Greener Than You Think
• There followed a movement toward the town--futile enough, for as the vanguard approached, the Confederate batteries across the river limbered up, trotted or galloped to other positions on the green bluff heads, and trained the guns on the ground between Port Republic and the head of the Federal column. —  The Long Roll
• Unfortunately, the bombardment seems to have been pretty near futile--not the fault of the gunners, but simply because, on the one hand, the mist interfered with the accuracy of their aim, on the other, shortage of shell prevented them from making up for inaccuracy by quantity. —  Gallipoli Diary, Volume 2
• All attempts to reach this proved futile, and he could secure no foothold on the slippery walls What should he do? —  The Son of Monte-Cristo, Volume I
• Free--if it is free to be tormented by remorse, to feel cheap, futile, a waster--a thing of no account to anyone. —  We Three

Roget's II: The New Thesaurus

Allen's Synonyms and Antonyms

Used in the Same Context