Collocations for "futile"
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word "futile" in context.
WordReference English Collocations © 2025
futile
ⓘMost examples are given in US English. We have labeled exceptions as UK.adj
- it is futile to [resist, argue, attempt]
- it seems futile to [resist]
- it [may, might] prove futile to
- futile and [stupid, useless, dangerous]
- (any) resistance would be futile
- your resistance is futile
- a futile argument
- in a futile [effort, attempt] to
- conduct a futile search for
- this search is futile
- ultimately (it) proved futile
- all attempts proved futile
- their [remarks, jibes, comments] were merely futile
- futile in the face of [such, so much, all this] suffering
- [are, were, proved] futile in the face of such [suffering, hostility, adversity]
'futile' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):