Recent Examples on the WebThe 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