When it comes to wasting effort, there are many different synonyms that you can use to describe this frustrating and unproductive activity. Some possible alternatives to the phrase "wasting effort" include "squandering time," "futile exertion," "pointless labor," "fruitless endeavor," "wasting energy," "unproductive striving," "ineffectual struggle," "wasted resources," "vain pursuit," "useless expenditure," and "nonsensical enterprise." All of these phrases capture the sense of frustration and disappointment that comes from putting in a lot of effort and not seeing any meaningful results. By using synonyms like these, you can add variety and nuance to your language and better convey your meaning to others.