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
When the law that governs CARE Court was being written, many advocacy groups insisted that coercion is ineffective and that modern mental health care favors treating people in the least restrictive settings possible.
—
Kelly Davis, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Mar. 2026
Their navy has been deemed combat ineffective.
—Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 29 Mar. 2026
Center fielder Oneil Cruz botched consecutive plays in the first inning, helping the Mets score five runs off a surprisingly ineffective Skenes (0-1), matching his career high.
—CBS News, 27 Mar. 2026
Remarkably, in more than two decades since the concept was introduced, there has not been a single publication presenting evidence that the intervention is ineffective or harmful.
—Eugene Litvak, STAT, 27 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ineffective
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Kelly Davis, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Mar. 2026
Their navy has been deemed combat ineffective.
—Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 29 Mar. 2026
Center fielder Oneil Cruz botched consecutive plays in the first inning, helping the Mets score five runs off a surprisingly ineffective Skenes (0-1), matching his career high.
—CBS News, 27 Mar. 2026
Remarkably, in more than two decades since the concept was introduced, there has not been a single publication presenting evidence that the intervention is ineffective or harmful.
—Eugene Litvak, STAT, 27 Mar. 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 2 Apr. 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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