ineffective
adjective
in·ef·fec·tive
ˌi-nə-ˈfek-tiv 
1
: not producing an intended effect : ineffectual
ineffective lighting
an ineffective treatment
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 Democrats also largely take aim at how wasteful and ineffective the policy may be.
—
Stephen Groves, Arkansas Online, 14 Feb. 2026
Trump has repeatedly characterized FEMA as ineffective and has pushed for states to have a larger role in disaster response.
—Michael Collins, USA Today, 14 Feb. 2026
When those efforts were ineffective, Roefaro bribed Taylor with tens of thousands of dollars in cash payments, between which Taylor issued a memo recommending the NYPD award the company a contract worth more than $11 million, according to the indictment.
—Cayla Bamberger, New York Daily News, 13 Feb. 2026
But Russia has been too weak and ineffective to take advantage.
—Alan Cullison, The Atlantic, 13 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ineffective
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Stephen Groves, Arkansas Online, 14 Feb. 2026
Trump has repeatedly characterized FEMA as ineffective and has pushed for states to have a larger role in disaster response.
—Michael Collins, USA Today, 14 Feb. 2026
When those efforts were ineffective, Roefaro bribed Taylor with tens of thousands of dollars in cash payments, between which Taylor issued a memo recommending the NYPD award the company a contract worth more than $11 million, according to the indictment.
—Cayla Bamberger, New York Daily News, 13 Feb. 2026
But Russia has been too weak and ineffective to take advantage.
—Alan Cullison, The Atlantic, 13 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ineffective
Cite this Entry
“Ineffective.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ineffective. Accessed 17 Feb. 2026.
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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