as in futile
producing no results
an unavailing effort to avert a war
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of unavailing
The position advanced by the states is legally unavailing as a matter of longstanding and well-established law.
—
WSJ, 25 July 2018
Efforts to aid him with lifeboats, three of which were ineffectually trying to breast the heavy sea, were unavailing, while a lifeline, held by a number of rescuers, was carried far out into the surf by a number of swimmers.
—sandiegouniontribune.com, 6 May 2018
American demands for an end to the North Korean nuclear program have proved unavailing.
—Henry A. Kissinger, WSJ, 11 Aug. 2017
WSJ, 25 July 2018
Efforts to aid him with lifeboats, three of which were ineffectually trying to breast the heavy sea, were unavailing, while a lifeline, held by a number of rescuers, was carried far out into the surf by a number of swimmers.
—sandiegouniontribune.com, 6 May 2018
American demands for an end to the North Korean nuclear program have proved unavailing.
—Henry A. Kissinger, WSJ, 11 Aug. 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unavailing
Adjective
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Telling people to evacuate with no plan — or even an actual route — seems pretty futile.—
Inga,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
3 Feb. 2025
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That disaster is remembered for the heroic action of federal worker Lenny Skutnik, a bystander who watched a helicopter’s futile effort to pull survivors from the river.—
Matt Leclercq,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
30 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office and Walnut Grove Fire District personnel searched that first night from the air and aboard boats equipped with sonar and powerful magnets to detect the submerged vehicle but were unsuccessful.—
Darrell Smith,
Sacramento Bee,
6 Feb. 2025
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Musk's $44 billion purchase of Twitter in 2022 has been seen by some business analysts as an unsuccessful investment as the company's value has gone down sharply over the years with users and advertisers dropping the platform.—
Ivan Pereira,
ABC News,
5 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Power losses also left area water pumps useless for hours during the 2017 Thomas fire.—
Grace Toohey,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Feb. 2025
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The holding midfielder Antonio Blanco tried to step into Yamal but a quick flick of his left foot meant that Blanco’s tackle was useless.—
Pol Ballús,
The Athletic,
3 Feb. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near unavailing
Cite this Entry
“Unavailing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unavailing. Accessed 22 Feb. 2025.
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