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

Synonyms of ineffective

• unsuccessful
• inefficient
• counterproductive

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

But even so, Trump‘s pick for FCC chair, Brendan Carr, says the January ruling is unlawful and ineffective. —PC Magazine, 20 Nov. 2025

In documents obtained by Fox News Digital, Masterson cites nearly a dozen instances of ineffective counsel, prosecutorial misconduct, and judicial bias. —Tracy Wright, FOXNews.com, 17 Nov. 2025

However, that approach is not only exhausting and ineffective but can also cause a cascade of problems. —Dana Santas, CNN Money, 17 Nov. 2025

The offense was mostly ineffective. —Erick Smith, USA Today, 17 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1649, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for ineffective

• intellective
• introspective
• irrespective
• nondirective
• nonselective
• retrospective
• unreflective
• advective
• affective
• collective
• connective
• convective

Kids 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