deemed futile

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "deemed futile" is correct and can be used in written English.
It means something that is considered to be useless or pointless. Example: Despite their best efforts, the team's attempts to win the game were deemed futile by the coach.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

20 human-written examples

The discussion ultimately was deemed futile.

The Guardian - Sport

The effort is widely deemed futile (to say nothing of blasphemous).

The New Yorker

Meanwhile, an 18-year-old with a brain tumour is alive longer than expected, his prognosis deemed futile.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The patient and her family were thankfully realistic about her prognosis and didn't want heroic measures to prolong her life if such measures are deemed futile.

University of California, Berkeley

The management of Comix, a comedy club near 14th Street and Ninth Avenue that's more Tanqueray than Sam Adams, invited Ms. Hong to host a show a few months back in hopes of attracting an Asian audience, a plan she initially deemed futile.

The New York Times

Dr. Steinbrook said potential donors included patients on ventilators after devastating and irreversible brain injuries, as might follow a hemorrhagic stroke, as well as patients with high spinal cord injuries and terminal musculoskeletal diseases like ALS, for whom further medical treatment is deemed futile.

The New York Times - Health

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

40 human-written examples

Physicians in intensive care units routinely limit treatments they deem futile, especially for terminal illnesses.

The New York Times - Health

Many doctors would like New York law relaxed so they have more say in situations they deem futile.

The New York Times

State law allows physicians to discontinue treatment they deem medically futile.

The New York Times - Health

According to the study, reasons physicians cited for deeming treatment "futile" included "burdens grossly outweigh benefits, patient will never survive outside an ICU, patient is permanently unconscious, treatment cannot achieve the patient's goals, or death is imminent".

Huffington Post

When this was deemed to be futile, the community asked for changes to the design that would mitigate the impact of the freeway to the pedestrian-dependent community.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "deemed futile" to objectively express that something has been judged as pointless or ineffective, especially in formal or professional contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "deemed futile" in casual conversation; simpler phrases like "pointless" or "useless" are often more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "deemed futile" functions as a predicative adjective phrase. It indicates a state or condition attributed to a subject, signifying that something has been judged as pointless or ineffective. As Ludwig AI confirms, this is a grammatically correct construction.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

46%

Academia

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "deemed futile" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression signifying that something has been judged as pointless or ineffective. As Ludwig AI validates, this phrase is appropriate for formal contexts, such as academic writing, news reports, and professional communications. It frequently appears in discussions related to medical treatments and strategic evaluations. While simpler alternatives like "pointless" or "useless" may suffice in casual settings, "deemed futile" carries a more authoritative tone. Therefore, writers should mind the context when using this phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

considered pointless

Focuses on the lack of purpose or value attributed to something.

regarded as ineffective

Highlights the perceived lack of ability to produce the desired result.

judged to be in vain

Emphasizes the lack of success or positive outcome despite effort.

seen as unproductive

Focuses on the absence of useful results or progress.

thought to be useless

Highlights the lack of practical application or value.

determined to be fruitless

Emphasizes the absence of beneficial results or outcomes.

recognized as unavailing

Focuses on the lack of help or advantage derived from something.

believed to be unsuccessful

Highlights the expectation of failure or lack of achievement.

assessed as hopeless

Emphasizes the lack of optimism or expectation of improvement.

viewed as a lost cause

Indicates a situation or effort considered beyond redemption or repair.

FAQs

How can I use "deemed futile" in a sentence?

You can use "deemed futile" to describe an action, effort, or treatment that has been judged as ineffective or pointless. For example, "The rescue mission was "considered pointless" after days of searching yielded no results".

What's a simpler way to say "deemed futile"?

Alternatives include "useless", "pointless", or "ineffective". The choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "deemed futile"?

The phrase "deemed futile" is best used in formal writing or speech when you want to convey that a judgment has been made about the lack of value or effectiveness of something. It's common in medical, legal, and academic contexts.

What's the difference between "deemed futile" and "futile"?

"Futile" describes something that is inherently incapable of producing any useful result. "Deemed futile" indicates that someone or some authority has made a judgment that something is "considered pointless" or ineffective.