What is the term used to describe something that is useless or hopeless?

The term "futile" effectively captures the essence of something that is not only useless but also devoid of any hope of success or improvement. It implies that despite any efforts made, the outcome will remain unchanged, highlighting the sense of despair in those attempts. "Futile" conveys that trying to achieve a particular goal may not only be pointless but also an exercise in frustration, as success is unattainable.

While "pointless," "vain," and "trivial" relate to concepts of insignificance or lack of effectiveness, they don't encapsulate the complete sense of hopelessness associated with "futile." "Pointless" suggests irrelevance but lacks the connotation of effort yielding no results. "Vain" typically refers to excessive pride or self-importance rather than the absence of utility. "Trivial" denotes something of little value or importance but does not necessarily imply that efforts toward it will be in vain. Thus, "futile" remains the most comprehensive term for describing a situation that is both useless and hopeless.