exercises in futility
Wasted labor, repeatedly
Exercises in futility are actions undertaken despite being doomed to fail or produce no meaningful result.
The phrase emphasizes repeated or sustained effort that accomplishes nothing: Trying to reason with him was an exercise in futility.
Often used to characterize bureaucratic processes, arguments with obstinate people, or any endeavor where the outcome is predetermined regardless of effort expended.
- fruitlessProducing no useful outcome
- KafkaesqueOppressively absurd and labyrinthine
- abortiveFailed before completion
- unproductiveFailing to achieve results
- worthlessLacking any value
Sisyphean · quagmire · ineffectual · vain · lost causes · uphill battle · banging head against wall · unavailing · spit in the wind · purposelessness · pointless · hopelessness · despair · absurdity · tilting at windmills · useless · wild goose chases · wastes of time
exercises in futilitybreakthroughs
Sudden significant advances
achievements · triumphs · accomplishments · best practices · game-changers
exercises in futilitymeaningful work
Labor with significance
labors of love · calling · life's work · vocations · mission
exercise, exercised, exercising, exerciser, exercisers, futile, futilely, futility, futilities