ineffective
adjective
in·ef·fec·tive
ˌi-nə-ˈfek-tiv 
1
: not producing an intended effect : ineffectual
ineffective lighting
2
: not capable of performing efficiently or as expected : incapable
an ineffective executive
ineffectively
adverb
ineffectiveness
noun
Examples of ineffective in a Sentence
The treatment was ineffective against the disease.
an ineffective effort to reduce unemployment that only spurred inflation
Recent Examples on the Web
The Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals later rejected a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel against him.
—
Amy Yurkanin, ProPublica, 9 Oct. 2025
Asle Toje, the deputy leader of the present Norwegian Nobel Committee, echoed the view that promotional campaigns are ineffective.
—Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 9 Oct. 2025
As an example to all those who would presume to think that the Malagasy monarchy still existed, that the colonial occupation was ineffective?
—Literary Hub, 9 Oct. 2025
What’s at stake here is whether states should endorse practices that every major medical and mental-health association has already disavowed as dangerous and ineffective.
—Timothy Schraeder Rodriguez, Time, 8 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ineffective
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Amy Yurkanin, ProPublica, 9 Oct. 2025
Asle Toje, the deputy leader of the present Norwegian Nobel Committee, echoed the view that promotional campaigns are ineffective.
—Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 9 Oct. 2025
As an example to all those who would presume to think that the Malagasy monarchy still existed, that the colonial occupation was ineffective?
—Literary Hub, 9 Oct. 2025
What’s at stake here is whether states should endorse practices that every major medical and mental-health association has already disavowed as dangerous and ineffective.
—Timothy Schraeder Rodriguez, Time, 8 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ineffective
Cite this Entry
“Ineffective.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ineffective. Accessed 12 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
ineffective
adjective
in·ef·fec·tive
ˌin-ə-ˈfek-tiv
1
: not producing the desired effect
an ineffective law
2
: not performing as well as expected or needed
an ineffective leader
ineffectively
adverb
ineffectiveness
noun
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