futile

First, they must be trained, and training large numbers of animals that don’t live very long is expensive, time-consuming, and somewhat futile.

The Washington Post and 17 other newspapers obtained their own set of the papers from Ellsberg and continued to publish as federal prosecutors dashed from city to city in a futile effort to obtain injunctions that would stop the presses.

Local leaders protest, but those protests are futile, and rigid new security protocols are enforced.

Even after Wednesday’s riots, more than 100 lawmakers supported a futile attempt to overturn the election.

“We’ve been trying to get ahead of it, and plan and plan and get the details out, and we’ve figured out that that’s a pretty futile effort,” he said.

LONDON—You want to know how awful, futile, and dehumanizing war is?

And that's why nearly all speculation, learned or otherwise, about the future directions of jazz is always futile.

There is probably nothing more futile for a celebrity to attempt than changing their name.

As a result, his rep rehab remains a lonely and futile mission.

Perhaps even the indefatigable John Kerry might be discouraged from more futile and dispiriting peace talks.

Her directness had made all possible 'buts' seem ridiculous and futile, and had made the expression of curiosity seem offensive.

I kept a stiff backbone for a while, but presently a futile rage against circumstances bubbled up and boiled over.

And MacRae's patience snapped like a frayed thread before many minutes of futile query.

Her eyes are in a measure open now, but it is too late, and she rebels in the usual futile feminine way.

There had been a round year of peace negotiations and futile truces, with warlike preparation in the background.