make a futile effort

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "make a futile effort" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when describing an attempt that is unlikely to succeed or is ultimately pointless. Example: "Despite their best intentions, they made a futile effort to change the outcome of the game."

✓ Grammatically correct

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

(In the summer of 2010, he made a futile effort to rally support in Congress for ending the Bush tax cuts).

The New Yorker

President Kennedy had foreseen this when he made a futile effort to persuade new exiles to settle in other parts of the country.

The New York Times

"The constitutional prerogative of the president," said Mr. Bush's chief spokeswoman, Dana M. Perino, "would make it a futile effort for Congress to refer contempt citations to U.S. attorneys".

The New York Times

But the lower federal courts disagree sharply over the question that the justices agreed today to decide: whether inmates faced with an administrative process that does not provide the type of relief they are seeking are still required to make a predictably futile effort.

The New York Times

Seth Moulton recently made headlines for mounting a futile effort to derail Nancy Pelosi's bid to be Speaker of the House of Representatives.

BBC

Nor was I trying to make cool teen friends in a futile effort to hold onto my waning youth as part of some 21 Jump Street-style sting operation.

Vice

If there is a lesson I take from all this, it is that we should not disavow our hatreds in a futile effort to make ourselves – to make the world – clean.

The Guardian

In a futile effort to make Congressional Republicans happy enough that they might actually agree to other things, President Obama has committed to making the incredibly expensive complex of nuclear labs and production plants even more incredibly expensive.

The New York Times

A once formidable professional golfer, brought low by personal scandals, lets a camera follow him around during a rocky comeback attempt in a futile effort to make himself an object of sympathy.

The New York Times - Arts

In a futile effort to make peace with Stern and Hoffa, Sweeney agreed to substantial constitutional and structural changes in the AFL-CIO that are designed to strengthen organizing and provide more money to such efforts.

The Washington Post

More than a decade ago, Ford spent $2.5 billion to buy the storied brand and then spent billions more in a futile effort to make it a winner.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "make a futile effort" when you want to emphasize the wasted effort and the lack of positive outcome despite the attempt. It's suitable when highlighting the irony or disappointment of the situation.

Common error

Avoid using "futile" repeatedly in the same sentence or paragraph. Vary your language to maintain reader engagement and prevent redundancy. Instead of saying "They made a futile effort, but their futile attempts were futile", try "They made a futile effort, but their subsequent attempts proved equally unsuccessful."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "make a futile effort" functions as a verbal phrase describing an action that is undertaken but ultimately fails to achieve the desired outcome. It highlights the wasted energy and lack of success of the attempt.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

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Formal & Business

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Less common in

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "make a futile effort" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe an attempt that is ultimately unsuccessful. While Ludwig AI indicates that the phrase is correct and usable, the lack of examples suggests that it is not as commonly used as some of its alternatives such as "attempt in vain" or "try unsuccessfully". When using this phrase, it is best to ensure that the context clearly highlights the wasted effort and lack of positive outcome. Be mindful of overuse, and consider varying your language with synonyms to maintain reader engagement.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

make a vain attempt

Similar to "make a futile effort", but emphasizes the pride or ego involved in the unsuccessful attempt.

attempt in vain

This alternative directly conveys the lack of success in the attempt, emphasizing the disappointment.

try unsuccessfully

A more straightforward way of saying the effort did not achieve the desired outcome.

undertake a hopeless endeavor

This phrase highlights the lack of hope from the beginning of the effort.

pursue a lost cause

Implies that the effort was doomed from the start and not worth pursuing.

spin one's wheels

Suggests expending energy without making progress.

go on a fool's errand

Highlights the lack of wisdom or practicality in the effort.

beat a dead horse

An idiomatic expression meaning to waste effort on something that is already over or cannot be changed.

flounder aimlessly

Suggests a lack of direction and purpose in the effort, leading to failure.

chase rainbows

Implies pursuing an unrealistic or unattainable goal.

FAQs

How can I use "make a futile effort" in a sentence?

You can use "make a futile effort" to describe an attempt that is unlikely to succeed. For instance, "Despite their best intentions, they "made a futile effort" to change the outcome of the game."

What's the difference between "make a futile effort" and "make a vain attempt"?

While both phrases describe unsuccessful attempts, "make a futile effort" emphasizes the pointlessness of the attempt, while "make a vain attempt" often implies a degree of arrogance or self-importance in the attempt.

What can I say instead of "make a futile effort"?

You can use alternatives like "attempt in vain", "try unsuccessfully", or "undertake a hopeless endeavor" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "made a futile effort" or should it be "did a futile effort"?

The correct phrasing is "made a futile effort". The verb "make" is typically used with "effort" to describe the act of attempting something.