uselessly

This adverb carries a strong connotation of futility and frustration. It describes actions that are not merely unsuccessful, but are perceived as a waste of time or effort because the desired outcome is impossible to achieve. It often implies a sense of helplessness or a lack of strategic direction.

In terms of register, it is versatile and used in both formal writing and casual speech. However, it is more emotionally charged than the neutral "ineffectively." While "ineffectively" suggests a failure in method or skill, "uselessly" suggests that the entire endeavor was pointless from the start.