For some time we tried ineffectually to get a message across.

Greebo spat on his hand and tried ineffectually to groom his hair.

He could hear policemen now beginning to work the edges of the crowd, trying ineffectually to clear the avenue.

Political leaders ineffectually try to navigate between the public's sense of guilt and anger about these foreigners.

Despite this obvious fact, he tried ineffectually to fit the bulky chair through the narrow opening in the picket fence.

"You're hurting me," Nikol whispered, trying ineffectually to pull away.

She lay in the hospital bed with a nurse trying ineffectually to comfort her, as Kelly clutched a teddy bear.

I cried, ineffectually trying to push his hand away.

He could feel his own hand at his throat, ineffectually trying to push her head away.

She panted as she tried ineffectually to kick out.