expression, adverb
fighting in vain; despite a good fight
Used when someone's efforts or struggle end in failure or without the desired result, often in sports, competitions, or battles. Conveys respect for the effort despite the outcome.
彼は健闘むなしく、決勝で敗れた。
He fought well but lost in the finals.
チームは健闘むなしく、予選敗退となった。
The team put up a good fight but was eliminated in the preliminaries.
Compound of 健闘 (けんとう, 'good fight') and the adverbial form of 空しい (むなしい, 'futile'). The phrase literally means 'with a good fight being in vain'.