Entry Word: effective

Function: adjective

Meaning: 1 producing or capable of producing a desired result <an effective treatment of the once-dreaded disease>

Synonyms effectual, efficacious, efficient, fruitful, potent, productive

Related Words adequate, capable, competent; adept, expert, masterly, proficient, skilled, skillful; cogent, convincing, killer, sound, striking, telling, valid; active, dynamic; operative, useful, working; feasible, practical, realizable, workable

Near Antonyms incapable, incompetent, inexpert, unqualified; abortive, bootless, futile, vain; empty, hollow, idle, pointless; inoperative, useless, worthless

Antonyms fruitless, ineffective, ineffectual, inefficient, unproductive

2 having the power to persuade <made an effective argument in favor of the proposal> — see cogent