He brought his arm up in a futile attempt to ward off the blow.

他出于挡住这一击的无谓企图抬起了他的胳膊。

《柯林斯英汉双解大词典》

They are a futile attempt to keep from missing out.

企图阻止错过是徒劳无益的。

youdao

Sadly, this is just another example of living in bad faith; a futile attempt to escape responsibility.

总是关于通过选择，我们要活出自己，对自己负责。

youdao

It tells you that any attempt to try to specify, to localize the position of an electron in such a system is futile.

这说明你试着任何尝试关于，使一个电子在这样一个系统中,确定其明确的位置是没有意义的。

麻省理工公开课 - 固态化学导论课程节选

They still offer too many models in a futile attempt to be all things to all consumers.

WSJ: Business Asia: Changing Rules of the Road for China's Auto Industry

Smith, the NBA's top sixth man, scored 19 points, most coming in a futile attempt to rally his team late.

WSJ: Pacers rout Knicks 93-82 to take 3-1 series lead

But eventually they may go up as workers make a futile attempt to maintain their standard of living with dollars that are steadily losing value.

FORBES: Magazine Article