Several pleas to ransom him are unavailing. Deathbed attempts to induce him to return them were unavailing. Nonetheless, "her attempts to economize appear to have been unavailing". Cyrus assures him he will prevail (Air&colon;"Dry those unavailing tears"). His efforts with the high-caste Brahmins remained unavailing. All further resistance, it was now obvious, would prove unavailing. Dr Rogerson obeyed, but all his skill was unavailing. George Gilpin of the Merchant Adventurers also made some unavailing efforts for his release. However, even these specific statutory exceptions have proven unavailing to knife owners at times. Familiar algebraic methods are unavailing for solving such equations. Complaints to the motel owners and to the police had been unavailing. Legal challenges to the fence were unavailing. The Secretary found Smith's explanation to be unavailing.