abortive

adjective

abor·​tive ə-ˈbȯr-tiv 

1

obsolete : prematurely born

2

: fruitless, unsuccessful

3

: imperfectly formed or developed

4

: tending to cut short

abortively adverb

abortiveness noun

Synonyms

• barren
• bootless
• empty
• fruitless
• futile
• ineffective
• ineffectual
• inefficacious
• otiose
• profitless
• unavailing
• unproductive
• unprofitable
• unsuccessful
• useless
• vain

Examples of abortive in a Sentence

an abortive attempt to recover the sunken pirate ship

Recent Examples on the Web

Microsoft is well-positioned to run a redo of Valve's abortive Steam Machines effort, only this time without the performance headaches and limited library of Linux ports that plagued that effort. —ArsTechnica, 18 June 2025

In the abortive March 2022 draft deals, Russia even expressed a willingness to return to preinvasion lines. —Fred Weir, Christian Science Monitor, 30 May 2025

Despite being hurt by a number of abortive early stabs at voice recognition in decades gone by, voice recognition when done well can actually provide a uniquely direct way of accessing content and features on modern TVs. —John Archer, Forbes.com, 13 May 2025

The military establishment was especially sensitive to criticism at the time – less than a month after the abortive revolt by Wagner mercenary group boss Yevgeny Prigozhin. —Katharina Krebs, CNN Money, 15 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English abortyffe, borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French abbortif, borrowed from Latin abortīvus, from abortus, past participle of aborīrī "to miscarry, abort entry 1" + -īvus -ive

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for abortive

• supportive
• sportive

Kids Definition

abortive

adjective

abor·​tive ə-ˈbȯrt-iv 

1

: unsuccessful in achieving the desired conclusion or result

an abortive escape attempt

2

: imperfectly formed or developed : rudimentary

abortively adverb

abortiveness noun

Medical Definition

abortive

adjective

abor·​tive ə-ˈbȯrt-iv 

1

: imperfectly formed or developed : rudimentary

2

a

: abortifacient

b

: cutting short

abortive treatment of pneumonia

c

: failing to develop completely or typically

an abortive case of poliomyelitis